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Modi: Cong leadership weak
Godhra a black spot on country, says Congress
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Dismal turnout at Modi rally
Venue hunt still on for Maya’s May 11 rally
Senior citizens seek ‘action’ for votes
Student denied admission as result still awaited
Persistence Pays
Nicotex helps to quit smoking, says expert
Guru Nanak Academy lifts hockey trophy
St Thomas enter final
Three selected for judo camp
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Modi: Cong leadership weak
Roorkee, May 6 “Development and security are the main issues, which are to be addressed right now to save India. Only the BJP is capable of providing security and putting the country on the path of development under the leadership of Advani ji ”, said the Gujarat Chief Minister, addressing a gathering of around 7,000 at Nehru stadium. Modi was in town to campaign for party candidate Swami Yatindranand. Modi held the Congress responsible for the “mess” in the country which he attributed to weak leadership. “The Congress alone is responsible for all major problems like inflation, terrorism and poverty. The Congress has ruled the country for around 55 years. “If the country is still struggling with poverty, then who should be held responsible; they (Congress) or we (BJP),” asked Modi. He said the Congress lacked the political will to resolve issues and remained wedded to vote politics. It had no thought for the country’s development, he alleged. Targeting Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Modi called him the “weakest” Prime Minister the country had ever had. “What can you expect from a Prime Minister who can’t do anything without the prior permission of madam,” he asked the audience. quipped Modi On terrorism, Modi said: “Terrorists like Afzal Guru and Kasab should be hanged but the government is busy submitting answers to Pakistan’s questionnaire. This is shameful.” Modi had a word of praise for himself, saying he had ushered in development in Gujarat. “The example of Gujarat is in front of all. The Congress should learn something from Gujarat,” he said. Modi appealed to the people of the state to turn out in large numbers for the May 13 elections to free the country from the ‘panja’ (grip) of the Congress and vote his party to power. |
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Godhra a black spot on country, says Congress
Dehradun, May 6 While addressing small gatherings, she said, “BJP and particularly Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, are only playing with poor people’s religious sentiments. Godhra riots and their aftermath remain as a black spot on the country.” Interestingly, Narendra Modi was also in the city to canvass for BJP today. Blaming senior BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani she said, “Attacks on the Parliament, Akshar Dham, J&K Legislative Assembly took place while terrorists were released at Khandhar in Afghanistan when BJP, as a part of NDA, was ruling the country and Advani was the Home Minister.” She said people should be cautious of BJP because whenever it has come to power it has only caused destruction in the country.” |
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Dismal turnout at Modi rally
Dehradun, May 6 The low turnout at the rally made Modi show a lacklustre affair, though by the end of the rally, the BJP did manage to gather a crowd of a few thousands. Accompanied by Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri and top BJP leaders and party candidate from Haridwar and Tehri,Yatendranand Giri and Jaspal Rana, respectively, Modi reached the venue almost two hours late. In his brief address, Khanduri thanked Modi for finding time to campaign in Uttarakhand. He hoped his presence would further strengthen the party position in all five parliamentary constituencies. Interestingly, all speakers emphasised on the Modi charisma and referred to him as the future Prime Minister. But the people of Dehradun seemed unimpressed and began leaving the venue even as Modi was delivering his speech. Modi mainly attacked the UPA government terming it as “weak”. Accusing the government of “surrendering” before foreign powers, he expressed concern over the turmoil in countries surrounding India. “ The Taliban has already reached Pakistan. Only a strong government in New Delhi can save the countrymen,” he thundered, exhorting the electorate to vote for the BJP. On the economic meltdown, Modi said India could benefit from the situation. “Manufacturing units in foreign countries are being shut down. Companies abroad want low production cost. In the wake of the fact that India has skilled labour, these foreign companies may eye India,” he said. He said for such an endeavour a strong government at the Centre was a must and BJP alone could deliver. He implored the people to put their faith in the BJP and vote the party to power. |
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Regional politics won’t do, says minister Shinde
Haridwar, May 6 He said he was sure the Congress would win all five seats of
Uttarakhand. Shinde said he could sense a Congress wave as the people feared regional politics would jeopardise the stability of the nation. “Under the able leadership of Manmohan Singh and the vision of party chief Sonia Gandhi, India has become a global power….whether it be nuclear suppliers group giving in to India’s strategic concerns or Indian economy sustaining amidst global recession, India has sailed through,” claimed Shinde. On the power sector, he said in the Eleventh Five-Year-Plan 92,000 mw of electricity will be produced. This will make India power sufficient. On the hill-plain divide, the minister said such divisive politics was unwanted and would “split the nation into fragments”. On Ram Mandir, he said the head priest of Ram Janmabhoomi, Satyendra Das, had stated in a tabloid that the BJP was using Lord Ram for petty politics. Shinde said he perceived a wave in favour of the Congress, particularly in Pauri Garhwal, Tehri Garhwal and Haridwar where the Congress was way ahead of its rival parties. |
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Venue hunt still on for Maya’s May 11 rally
Dehradun, May 6 Though, district administration had given the clearance for holding the rally at Rangers Ground but allegedly under “political pressure” the NOC issued for the rally was cancelled by the district administration. Now, with just four days left for the rally, the party leaders are making desperate efforts for arranging some alternate venue for convening the rally in support of BSP’s candidate from Tehri parliamentary constituency, Munna Singh Chauhan. Senior BSP leader Subhash Sharma said it was extremely unfortunate that ruling BJP is resorting to such cheap tactics. He further informed that since administration failed to provide any other site for the rally in state capital, now they have decided to shift the rally to Sahaspur, some 25 kilometers away from the capital. “Though, we have finalised the rally at Sahaspur but still we are trying to arrange a bigger ground here. “If we manage to get the land, we will again change the venue from Sahaspur to Dehradun,” he said. Flaying the ruling BJP, Sharma said the denial of permission by the administration tantamount to misuse of official machinery. The denial of the permission of Maya’s rally at Ranger’s Ground may prove blessing in disguise for the BSP. In wake of the fact that there is considerable number of Muslims and Dalits in Sahaspur, Mayawati’s rally may leave a strong impact on minority community, thereby giving a boost to the prospects of the party’s candidate Munna Singh Chauhan. |
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Senior citizens seek ‘action’ for votes
Dehradun, May 6 Understanding the nuances of a secure and a people-friendly government in the state, a group of senior citizens of from a non-political background today launched a charter of demands for consideration, introspection and appropriate action by political parties and candidates. Addressing the issue, Avadash
Kaushal, founder, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, a voluntary
organisation, said corruption is increasing with each passing day. It is mandatory that the government should not unnecessary hire employees resulting in overburdening and lack of efficiency in the government bodies of the state. However, the main issues discussed by the group in the charter are pertaining to water problem in rural areas, power generation, education, forest conservation, economic development, public health, migration, urban infrastructure, rural infrastructure, environment protection, public private partnership. They also discussed in detail the role of the government in the state with a list of fundamentals such as the government should ensure accountability and transparency, devolution of power with funds, functionaries to the local self-governance institutions as per the Article 243(g)- Powers, Authority and Responsibilities of Panchayats of Indian Constitution and this provision has not been given effect till date. In the absence of legislation in the State Assembly, PRIs remains a puppet in the hands of government officials. There should be direct elections for the post of the Zila Panchayat pramukh and Block pramukh to bring in transparency and curb corruption in their selection. Public partnership in urban and rural planning, the police reforms and accountability should be given top priority and more effective and better coordination is required for full proof disaster management in the state. |
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Govt turns deaf towards school’s financial cries
Dehradun, May 6 The school for deaf and dumb children is at the receiving end of state government’s high-handed attitude and with coffers empty the school authorities have no option but to close down, if the conditions persist. They are finding it increasingly difficult to run the school even on day-to-day basis and as of now, it was solely dependent on the largesse of the donors who make contributions now and then. In the 70s when there was little awareness about the need to provide education to the deaf and dumb children, Jagnath Sharma laid the foundation of Nanhi Duniya. The School conducts classes for students from Classes I to X. The students take the board examination through the Open School System. The school also provides the boarding facilities to the children living here in the school hostel at a very nominal fees is paid by the parents of the students. “Ever since the BJP government came to power, the Social Welfare Department has so far not moved our files and have adopted diversionary tactics aimed at stalling the budget allocation on one pretext or the other. “Our school has been denied 34 budgets. It has been difficult to look after the needs of a residential school and pay my teachers,” said Kumud Joshi, principal of the school. The cost per child comes around Rs 500 for which provisions are made by the guardians and rest is looked after by the school authorities. The school is registered under a Charitable Society and gets funds from the Social Welfare Department (New Delhi) but before that recommendations regarding the budget have to be made by the state Welfare Department in Haldwani. The school has in all 12 teachers who have so far not received their salaries since the last 25 months. “The morale of the teachers is really low. They have been working without pay for the last several months. To top it they have to prepare students for open school. I am relying on donations made by residents of Doon who sometimes donate food, ration etc,” said the principal. |
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Student denied admission as result still awaited
Dehradun, May 6 A student of Law College, Sharma, has not been able to get admission to the 2nd semester as his 1st semester result is still awaited. While the college authorities are blaming the university whose officials as per Sharma have done nothing except making him write an application with the request to declare the result. Notably, his Roll No is altogether missing from the university’s result gazette. College OSD Naresh Semwal said the university was at fault for not declaring the result and as such the college should not be held responsible for this. We have sent all required documents to the university, including the proof of the examination. Besides asking him to visit the university, I have also talked to the university officials concerned about this. It seems to be a case of lack of communication between its examination and confidential cells, he said. |
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Persistence Pays
Mohan Lal had basically relied on self-preparation for cracking the IAS examination. For him taking professional coaching is just a mode through which one could maintain their focus and continuity in the studies. Mohan had History and Geography as optional subjects for IAS. Before clearing the IAS, he also got selected in the State Public Civil Service Examination. He is presently a professor in a Government Degree College, Garsain. He said, “Coaching institutes are no substitute to self-studies. I just underwent a mock interview at Sankalp, Delhi before going in for my final interview.” He is certainly not happy with the standard of coaching at the institutes here and said, “ The institute here need to come up to the standard of coaching institutes in Delhi that provide coaching in a professional manner. Lack of professionalism in the institutes here is making thousands of aspirants of the state go out for preparations. This was also the main reason behind why this city has failed to produce some good number of IAS officers from the city.” He further said that lack of awareness at the school and college level is also a reason behind why people not opting for civil services. |
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Parents’ body formed to tackle school issues
Haridwar, May 6 Founder of the body Sanjay Chopra said, “Abhivavak Sangh will be forced to take out the agitation if schools won’t retract their fee hike rules.” Condemning State Education Minister Madan Kaushik’s attitude towards the issue, Sanjay said that the education minister is promoting the unethical behaviour of the schools in the district. He also warned that the repercussions will be felt by the BJP in the upcoming general elections as parents are hapless and felt cheated both by the school management and by the state government. Apart from fee hike the issue of admission procedure in the private schools is also on the agenda of the parental body. Sandeep Gupta joint founder of the Sangh termed the admission process as unnecessary and another tool to harass parents to accumulate money from them. Pandit Chandra Prakash Sharma who is the conveyor of the parental association said that the fundamental right of education now comes with a price tag, which is the negative aspect of allowing the privatisation of education. |
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Nicotex helps to quit smoking, says expert
Dehradun, May 6 As part of the National Programme for Anti-Smoking underway here, during the course of the medial examination several patients suffering from chronic obstructive airway disease were encouraged to give up the deadly habit and Nicotex was pushed forward as a possible remedy. “The chewing gum manufactured by Cipla company contains Nicotine Polacrulex (2mg) that almost imitates the taste of cigarette when chewed. “Whenever the smoker feels the urge to smoke, rather than reaching for the pack of cigarettes, the Nicotex can be chewed upon twice or thrice in a day. The smoker may be repulsed due to the strong taste of the chewing gum, but it helps the patient develop aversion for cigarettes thus helping to overcome the habit,” said KC Pant, senior physician, Doon Hospital. However, before proceeding, the smokers are given the pulmonary function test that examines the state of their lungs. The next step is to motivate the smokers to give up the habit and Nicotex is promoted as part of an aversion therapy. “Basically Nicotine-laced cigarettes when inhaled manage to give a soothing experience to smokers, it is the main reason why smokers’ reliance on them have gradually increased. The dependency is not only life-threatening but also a big drain economically, at the camp all these factors are discussed and smokers are motivated to quit smoking,” said Dr Pant. |
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Guru Nanak Academy lifts hockey trophy
Dehradun, May 6 The academy was on the offensive right from the beginning and made some strategy early in the game The strategy paid as the academy scored their first goal in the 15th minute of the game. It was Abhishek Thapaliyal’s solo run from the 25 yard as he dodged three players before skillfully placing the ball in their opponent’s goalpost, giving a 1-0 lead. The second goal came soon from the academy’s team as Abhishek struck his second goal in the 20th minute of the first half to make it 2-0. Repeated attempts by the Moravian Institute could not fetch them a goal in the first half. In the second half the academy failed to increase their goal lead further, whereas lack of finishing touch by the Moravian Institute team made them lose golden opportunities that could have been converted to goals. Throughout the match the academy team showed good coordination and team work to win the match by 2-0. |
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St Thomas enter final
Dehradun, May 6 St Thomas won by six wickets against Hilton School. Hilton scored 43 runs in 12 overs. St Thomas reached the target by 6 wickets. Doon Public School defeated Brooklyn School by 20 runs. Doon scored 54 runs. Brooklyn was all out for 34 runs. Carman School, Premnagar, beat Guru Nanak Academy. Carman set a target of 59 runs. Guru Nanak was all out for 53 runs. Carman School, Bhaniyawala, defeated Summer Valley School by four wickets.
— TNS |
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Three selected for judo camp
Dehradun, May 6 Whereas, Kiran Negi of 40 PAC Haridwar has been selected for Senior National Women Coaching Camp by the Judo Association of India. The camp will held from May 1 and last till May 20.
— TNS |
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Dehradun, May 6