Haridwar, November 10
The people of Haridwar, irrespective of political parties, states, regions and religions, have come together and condemned the shameful act of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislators assaulting Abu Azmi for taking oath in Hindi and that too in the state assembly.

Massive protests in various parts of the city were held condemning the heinous act and terming it as a black day in the democracy of India.

There was a massive condemnation of the hooliganism done by MNS legislators by the Bahujan Samaj Party, Samajwadi Party, Congress and BJP.

Terming it as a direct blow on the national language Hindi, Uttarakhand Vikas Manch (UVM) activists staged a protest march from Valmiki Chowk to Ghoomanand Chowk and later burnt the effigies and posters of Raj Thackeray.

Manch convenor Sanjay Chopra remarked that if this was being done to the national language in India, soon MNS would object to the name of the country ie Hindustan.

“If Hindi can’t be spoken in the state assembly, in no time such instances will follow in other states where regional languages are spoken and will only disrupt the harmony of the country,” said Chopra.

Demanding disqualification of legislators from contesting in future, BS Tejiyan, General Secretary of the City Congress Committee, pointed out that Raj, along with the legislators, should give a written and public apology and be punished for propagating any such incident in future.

Former state Samajwadi Party chief Ambrish Kumar came on to the streets and condemned the ill-treatment meted out to the SP legislator and the MNS party’s objection to taking of oath in the national language.

Addressing a protest under the UVM, Ambrish said, “Diversity is the key to this nation and for centuries we have been together despite caste, creed, religion, region and language differences. And in no way any citizen of India can accept this.”

Now they were anti-Hindi and anti-North India, in future they would demand a separate Marathi nation.

“To fulfill smaller political motive and media attention, the national language and pride should not be hurt,” said Sharma at a meeting in divisional officer Ranipur.

Dr SK Batra, Head of the Commerce Department, SMJN College, terms it as a sign of pseudo mentality and ill-effects of regional politics.

Dehradun, November 10
The Uttarakhand unit of the Samajwadi Party (SP) today held a demonstration against the assault on party legislator Abu Azmi by MNS MLAs for taking oath of office in Hindi. Carrying placards and banners, party workers, led by state unit chief Vinod Bharatwal, held a demonstration at the DC office.

Bharatwal demanded the arrest of Raj Thackeray under the National Security Act (NSA) immediately. He said it was most unfortunate that a person taking oath in the national language was beaten up by MNS legislators.

Meanwhile, the Mahanagar Yuva Congress burnt an effigy of Raj Thackeray here in the city today. The members showing resentment on the Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha incident that happened yesterday took out the effigy of Thackeray and then burnt it amid slogan shouting.

City president of the Youth Congress Tinkle Arora said, “The assault on Abu Azmi by MNS members clearly shows that the party is against Hindi language and non-Marathis”.

Dehradun, November 10
To promote road safety and impart scientific driving training in the state, where every year hundreds of people lose their lives to accidents, Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank today signed an MoU with a leading automobile company, Maruti Suzuki, the first and only Institute of Driving and Traffic Research (IDTR), in the state.

He also announced the completion of construction of premises for the transport commission office, Matsaya Nideshalya at Bhoopalpani, Silk Park for Cooperative Resham Federation in Premnagar, the Revenue Department, and a polytechnic at Pithuwala.

Secretaries of these departments gave a brief account of the progress, problems and future strategies of their respective departments.

Nishank said it was a very important step as being a state with tremendous potential for tourism, people here must attain expertise over the art of driving. He also emphasised on furthering this alliance with Emergency 108.

It is a one step ahead for Maruti Suzuki, as it will be their second venture of public private partnership, after attempting their first feat successfully in Delhi.

Mayank Pareek, Executive Director, Marketing, Maruti Suzuki, said: “It requires a special skill to drive on hilly terrains. We will train those who know driving but are not proficient and those who will train the trainers. They will first be trained on specialised stimulator and then on tracks inside the institute and, thereafter, they will be given hand-on training on the roads. The fee structure will range from Rs 3,000 to 6,000 as per the course.”

Nishank laid stress on the need of sound education saying that his government had to remove some erring teachers and officials to bring efficacy in the education system.

He also urged to take cue from China and reiterate their example of churning out profits in the field of fishery, as the state was endowed with lot of varieties of fresh water and scrumptious fish.

Nishank said soon the state, which had already attained expertise in treating mental illness through spirituality and yoga, would excel in eradicating physical illness by carrying out research and then patenting its treasure of herbs by 2020.

The CM was all praise for path-breaking work of emergency service, Emergency 108, in the state. Nishank said, “This service has catered to half of the population of the state by taking calls of 30 lakh people, saved 80,000 mothers and new-born kids and 15,254 lives on accident sites by acting promptly. We are thinking of giving educational and other facilities to 960 children who were born in these ambulances. By next year, we will add 42 more such ambulances.”

Dehradun, November 10
A blood donation camp was organised by the 29 UK Battalion, NCC, Dehradun, in its Combined Annual Training Camp at Anarwala here today.

The camp was organised with the help of Doon Hospital and the AIDS Control Society.

The camp was inaugurated by NCC Deputy Director General, Uttarakhand, Brig PPS Pahwa VSM. He motivated the cadets to donate blood.

Speaking on the occasion, Pahwa said it was a noble cause as blood gave life and in every hospital it was needed.

Lieut-Colonel BS Ahluwalia, Lieut Atul Singh and Lieut Balwinder Singh were also present on the occasion.

Balwinder Singh said the total number of volunteer cadets was 700 who had come to donate the blood. These cadets would be medically examined and accordingly the cadets would donate blood.

Both juniors and seniors of 29 Battalion (Boys) and 11 Battalion (Girls) participated in the camp. 

Dehradun, November 10
Close on the heels of the missing Sub-Inspector, another case of a policeman missing has come to light in Uttarakhand.

This is the second such case of disappearance of a policeman in a week's time.

According to the police, traffic police Constable Balakram has been missing since November 7. He did his duty on the day, but did not reach his home in the evening.

Dehradun, November 10
Electrical appliances got damaged in around 60 houses at Galjwadi village and Sahaspur block due to high-voltage power supply on Sunday night. A man suffered an electric shock.

He has been admitted to Doon Hospital.

Pradhan Leela Sharma has written to the District Magistrate for providing monetary help to the victims.

The memorandum also states that the villagers were facing the power problem for the past some days.

“Suddenly, last night at 11.30, televisions, refrigerators and bulbs caught fire due to high voltage,” said one of the complainants.

“This is the third time that such an incident has taken place here. We have requested the District Magistrate to take quick action in this regard,” she further elaborated.

Roorkee, November 10
Traffic management has become a major issue in the town. An uncontrolled and haphazard traffic has become the order of the day.

The issue was raised by senior citizens and women before senior police officers, who were holding a meeting with citizens on the fourth day of Police Jansadbhavna Diwas at the Civil Lines police station 
here today.

At the meeting with SP (Rural) Ajay Joshi and ASP Janmajay Khanduri, the elderly persons apprised them of the deteriorating condition of traffic management in many parts of the town.

“It has become difficult for aged persons as well as women to come out on the roads due to an uncontrolled and poor traffic management. Many busy points like Azad Chowk have become accident-prone. These points witness two or three accidents, though mostly minor ones, daily,” said Col BP Joshi (retd).

While a teacher of a local school, Kavita Bhatnagar, said youngsters zooming on bikes is another nuisance not only for women but also for children and elderly persons.

“The police seems to be doing nothing in this regard. Even at the busiest point, Roorkee Talkies Chowk, no traffic cop is deployed. Many a time, it takes five or 10 minutes just to cross the road there,” she complained to the officers, saying that a speed breaker should be constructed there.

During the coming Maha Kumbh, the situation would aggravate, added the residents.

Showing concern to people’s problems, the police officers assured them that they would reddress their problems immediately.