Haridwar, April 21
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Swami Yatindranaand Giri and Samajwadi Party's Ambrish Kumar filed their nomination papers, here today. Although the filing was kept a low-key affair, after that the two candidates made a show of strength through a rally and road show, respectively.

Giri submitted his papers to the district election officer Shailesh Bahgholi at about 11 am with only four party members accompanying him. Interestingly, Ambrish Kumar too reached the election office at the same time, and the Swami even showered his blessings on the former.

Later, a rally was organised in support of the BJP candidate where Chief Minister BC Khanduri and several other party leaders addressed a large gathering.

Khanduri was accompanied by Rajya Sabha member Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Almora- Pitthoragarh candidate and state chief Bachi Singh Rawat, and cabinet ministers Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Madan Kaushik.

Addressing the gathering, Khanduri urged the voters to think on national terms and select the right candidate. "From Nehru-Indira-Rajiv-Sonia and now to Rahul, the Congress has been over-dependent on the Gandhi family, which does not bode well for a democratic country like ours," he said.

The CM also held the UPA government responsible for the rising inflation.

In his address, Koshyari was vociferous in his criticism of the Congress party and its candidate from Haridwar Harish Rawat.

On the same lines, Bachi Singh Rawat said although Harish Rawat had won thrice from Almora, yet he had never won against him.

Even Madan Kaushik said Harish Rawat had taken a wrong step by contesting from Haridwar seat. He also criticised BSP candidate Mohammed Shahjad. "He is only a politician of one community and does not have the right to represent us nationally," said Kaushik. In his short and crisp speech, Swami Yatindranand Giri thanked all the party leaders for their support. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank urged the people to vote for Swami Yatindranand.

On the other hand, Ambrish Kumar resorted to a road show after filing his nomination papers. His cavalcade traversed all parts of the city and Ambrish along with party workers greeted people.

Interestingly, at one point the SP workers came face to face with BJP activists when Ambrish's procession crossed the BJP rally point as Shiv Ji Palace on Jwalapur road.

Meanwhile, Harish Rawat will be filing his nomination papers tomorrow and his show of strength is eagerly being awaited. 

Dehradun, April 21
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), a regional political outfit, finds itself in a peculiar crisis where two factions of the party are involved in the game of political one-upmanship.

After the resignation of Uttarakhand Food and Urban Development Minister and UKD stalwart Diwakar Bhatt last week, there is hectic activity within the party on the issue of continuing support to the state BJP government.

UKD, which fought for creation of the separate hill state of Uttarakhand, had won three seats in the 70-member state assembly in the 2007 elections. The party decided to be part of the BJP-led government headed by Chief Minister BC Khanduri.

In the bargain, Diwakar Bhatt, was made a Cabinet Minister while two senior leaders - Kashi Singh Airy and BD Raturi - were given government positions.

Since the beginning, the rank and file of the party opposed the alliance with BJP and the situation worsened with the announcement of general election. UKD party workers demanded that since their party was part of the ruling alliance, the BJP, as a principle, should offer at least one seat to them.

However, BJP think-tank was not interested and despite a lot of hue and cry and calls for withdrawal of support to put pressure on Khanduri, the party announced candidates for all five seats, much to the chagrin of UKD rank and file.

Later, the UKD also decided to contest all five seats and voices within the party became shriller to withdraw support to Khanduri government. The party workers alleged that the BJP failed to perform the "Alliance Dharma".

But it was Diwakar Bhatt who opposed the move to withdraw support. The other group led by Kashi Singh Airy and one of the party legislator Pushpesh Pant, both hailing from Kumaon region, were for withdrawal of support before parliamentary elections.

They argued that it would be difficult for the party to seek votes on one hand and be part of the ruling alliance on the other.

There was tremendous pressure on Diwakar Bhatt from within the party. And Bhatt, a maverick who was named as "Field Marshal" during the statehood agitation, submitted his resignation from the council of ministers to the CM, although it has still not been accepted. By submitting his resignation, Bhatt has also put pressure on other senior party colleagues to resign from their government positions. As a consequence, Kashi Singh Airy, a senior party leader, submitted his resignation from the office of vice-chairman of Bhagirathi Valley Development Authority, a government undertaking. But the internal politics of UKD prevented Airy from submitting his resignation to the Chief Minister.

Instead, he gave it to party president Narayan Singh Jantwal, who is the candidate from Nainital seat.

Jantwal would be filing his nomination on April 22 at Rudrapur, where senior party leaders would meet to discuss the latest political situation and also about withdrawal of support to Khanduri government.

However, party leaders feel that since Bhatt, along with another party legislator Om Gopal, are favourably inclined towards Khanduri government, there is every likelihood that the question of withdrawal of support would be deferred in the Rudrapur meeting.

The anti-Bhatt faction of the party feels that in case UKD decides to withdraw support, both Bhatt and Om Gopal could form their own group or even go to the extent of joining BJP. Even in the past UKD had split, with Diwakar Bhatt heading a faction confined to Garhwal region and Kashi Singh Airy heading the other group in Kumaon.

"The resignation of Diwakar Bhatt has not been accepted by the Chief Minister yet," said a worried party leader.

Dehradun, April 21
With a view to ensure the enforcement of traffic rules and to regulate the traffic during the school hours, the Dehradun Traffic Police has initiated a drive, here today.

Traffic cops today locked the two wheelers of the students parked outside the boundary wall of various city schools. After the school hours, students were in a fix to see their vehicles locked.

The cops asked the students to show relevant documents of their vehicles along with the driving licence.

Many were failed to produce the documents but were let off after a warning.

Meanwhile, the traffic police has also made some roads one-way for an hour between 1 to 2 pm, to control the traffic congestion. 

Dehradun, April 21
Rimy Oberoi, founder and chief officer, Oyster Learning, Noida, while addressing a career counselling seminar, here today, said the Indian economy will be back on track in a few months and job opportunities are expected to grow manifold in some sectors. Oberoi said students should have a clear idea about the career they opt for and go in for a particular field after assessing their skills.

She informed that there are many opportunities in retail management, banking, financial services, insurance, BPO end operations and recruitment management.

She emphasised upon gaining practical knowledge of things and not just bank on bookish information.

Oberoi cautioned the students against going in for “niche” jobs, which require fewer people, early in their careers.

About the ongoing recession, she said in India the effect is far less as compared to western countries.

“It is just slowdown that India is experiencing, which is expected to be over by September. Therefore, youngsters should not fear the lack of jobs opportunities in the market; they are expected to increase soon.” 

Dehradun, April 20
Taking no chances, the state health authorities are making preparations to prevent dengue and malaria outbreak in the state.

Thought a single case of dengue and six cases of malaria have been detected in the state, the authorities said that these are early days.

“The tourism season is about to start and there is a strong possibility that persons travelling to and fro may carry and spread the infection,” said Dr PL Joshi, DG Health.

Last year, 140 cases of dengue were detected in the state with Dehradun reporting the maximum number (37). The total number of malaria cases was 201 of which 49 were reported in the capital.

“All chief medical officers in district hospitals have been asked to stock hospitals with Aspirin and other medicines. They have been instructed to compulsorily ensure that all patients with fever for more than eight days should undergo blood tests.

“We are maintaining weekly vigil in Sahastradhara where a case of dengue was detected a few weeks back. In the six cases of malaria, three were from the city and the rest were from Saharanpur,” said Dr HS Negi, state nodal officer, Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP).

Dengue, caused by the Ades mosquito, can be controlled with regular fogging and encouraging residents to maintain cleanliness at home and outside and not allowing water to stagnate.

“The symptoms at times may be confusing as it sets in with high fever, throbbing headache and muscular and joint pain,” said Dr Negi.

The classic dengue fever lasts about six to seven days with a smaller peak of fever at the end. Clinically, the platelet count drops until the patient's temperature becomes normal.

Some patients develop much milder symptoms which can be misdiagnosed as flu or viral infection. Patients with dengue can only pass on the infection through mosquitoes or blood products.

Dehradun, April 21
On the occasion of National PR Day, the Public Relation Society of India (Dehradun chapter) organised a talk on “PR-The Fifth Estate” at Tehri Hydro-Development Corporation (THDC) here today.

Speaking on the occasion, guest speaker Padma Shri Dr Anil P Joshi of Himalayan Environment Study and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) said that PR is not connected with just one person or organisation.

“PR is not just about doing a job in an organisation but a lot more. While handling the responsibility of PR, the person learns a lot,” he said.

He said that personal attitude, knowledge about the organisation and communication skills are very important elements for being a good PRO.

Making an interesting disclosure, Dr Joshi said, “If someone working for an non-governmental organisation (NGO) says a good word about a politician, the politician listens to the issue being raised by the NGO. If by doing so, the work of the masses is done, then this exercise should be termed good PR.”

Another guest speaker Rajeev Khanna, a senior journalist, said that today PR has assumed great importance in the day-to-day functioning of the government and other organisations.

Terming the PR team of the state as good and professional, he said, “A lot more needs to be done as far as the PR Department of the state government is concerned.

“It is strange that nine years after Uttarakhand came into existence, the government has not been able to issue official press notes in English,” he said.

He said that several good issues and developmental stories failed to appear in newspapers only because of the lack of initiative by the government in informing the media about such matters.

In his concluding remarks, deputy general manager of the THDC JP Dhaundiyal thanked the guest speakers.

Roorkee, April 21
Two vehicle thieves were arrested by the police when they were on their way to sell a stolen vehicle in Meerut.

According to the police, Sukhpal, a resident of Deoband, Saharanpur, and Vinay Kumar alias Sonu, a resident of Raise Laksar village in Haridwar district stole a Toyota Innova without registration number from here during the intervening night of April 19 and 20.

Both miscreants had been working as drivers and were known to the driver of the vehicle Arshad.

“Sukhpal had made a duplicate key of the vehicle when he was employed as driver by the vehicle’s owner Vikas. On April 19, Sukhpal and Sonu took Arshad for a dinner at a local dhaba. They took away the vehicle when Arshad was having food,” said RK Chamoli, inspector, Gangnehar police station. “On a tip-off, we laid a ‘naka’ on Panial chowk and arrested the thieves,” he said.

The police team, which included Chamoli, SI Rajiv Rothan, SI Ajay Pasbola, constables Surinder Singh and Gajpal Singh, have been awarded Rs 2,500 by the SP (Rural) Ajay Joshi.

Roorkee, April 21
The police today nabbed two miscreants involved in the robbing of a couple of persons from villages around Zabardastpur, around 15 km from here.

The two have been identified as Arshad and Shakeel

Two country-made pistols, Rs 1,500 and a stolen mobile phone have been recovered from them.

A couple of days ago, Arshad and Shakeel, along with two other accomplices, had robbed Rs 4,000 and a mobile phone from Tauqeer, a resident of Mukarpur village, and Tayab of Ransura village at gunpoint.

On a tip-off, the police conducted a raid and nabbed them from Jorasi village today. However, two of their accomplices managed to escape.

“The other two will be held soon. With their arrest, more cases of looting in the area will also be solved,” said Ajay Joshi, SP (Rural). A case has been registered. — TNS

Dehradun, April 21
St Joseph’s Academy team won its first league match of the District Junior (U-18) Basketball Championship underway at Welham Boys’ School, here today.

Results: Boys: St Joseph’s Academy beat PWC by 22-19, SVS beat MIS by 20-18, TAS beat CON by 35-7, DIS beat GRD by 30-17, DS got a walk over, KS beat THS by 15-13, JMS beat SJS by 19-12, HS beat AS 35-20. SJA beat SVS by 17-14, WBS beat TAS by 29-17.

Girls: CDS beat SJA by 21-11, HGS beat JMS 22-6, SJS beat CJM by 46-2, CJM beat STC by 20-17, DAV (PG) College beat DIS by 50-11, WGS beat UWS 57-6, SMS beat MIS by 19-16 and AS got a walk over.

Dehradun, April 21
Royal Club has stormed into the final of Kalanga Cricket Tournament by defeating Kiran XI by six wickets in the first semifinal match, here today.

Kiran XI won the toss and elected to bat first. Kiran XI set a target of 121 runs in allotted 20 overs. The team did not have a good start as it lost its first opener Kiran went for a duck. Anil, the second opener too could not do much and got out at a score of 10 runs.

Sultan along with lower order batsman Anil tried to stabilise their team’s innings.

Sultan smashed 29 runs off 17 balls, hitting one four and three sixes. Anil too chipped in 26 runs off 24 balls.

For Royal Club, Sanjay was the lead wicket taker with four wickets in four overs spell. Wasim and Pankaj claimed two wickets each.

While chasing the target of 122 runs, Royal Club had a good beginning.

Both the openers contributed 84 runs for the first-wicket partnership. Sanjay smashed 43 runs off 30 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes and the second opener Raman smashed 45 runs off 42 balls, smashing one four and four sixes in his innings.

The team reached the target with six wickets in hand and with seven overs still remaining to be bowled. For Kiran XI, Sultan, Ravi and Anil took one wicket each.

Dehradun, April 21
The Inter-Section Hockey Competition commenced at Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) here yesterday. Four matches were played on the inaugural day.

In the first match played between senior sections teams of Pratap and Ranjit houses, Pratap section won the match 1-0. It was the wonderful goal-keeping by cadet Shreyas Pingle that helped his team win the match. Cadet Utsav Singal was the goal scorer for Pratap house.

In the second match between the middle sections teams of Pratap and Shivaji, Shivaji section won 2-1. Cadet Sanket and cadet Abhimanyu Singh found the net for Shivaji team while Krishna Pal scored the lone goal for Pratap section.

The third match was played between Ranjit and Chandragupta sections in the middle category. The match ended in a scoreless draw.

The fourth match between juniors of the Pratap and Shivaji sections also ended in a scoreless draw.

At the end of the day, Pratap house led the scoreboard with 25 points followed by Shivaji, Ranjit and Chandragupt with five points each.

The dignitaries present on the occasion were Col H Dharmarajan, Commandant, RIMC, SK Tyagi, CS Vishwakarma, PK Sharma and Brijesh Chauhan, dean of sports.