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VAT surcharge hiked, Congress protests
Samajwadi Sabha burns FM’s effigy
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Narrow escape for SP activist
Mela admn gears up for coming festive occasions
Murder suspect arrested
Three killed as cab falls into gorge
Kashipur to be first to have ESI Hospital
Now, Shariat panel to settle disputes
Forest fires: Satellite aid to foresters
Nanaji Deshmukh’s death mourned
Rs 22 lakh granted to reconstruct nullah
Cong celebrates 125th anniversary on March 6
Dr Rajinder Prasad remembered
Mr, Miss Doon auditions
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VAT surcharge hiked, Congress protests
Dehradun, February 28 With the announcement, the food items will become dearer in the state and consumers who were disappointed with the hike in petrol and diesel prices announced two days ago in the Union Budget,
have been delved a double blow. “The commodities that were levied at 4 per cent will now cost at 4.5 per cent, while levies on luxury goods at 12 per cent will now be stand at 13.5 per cent. The new surcharge will become
applicable from March 1,” said LM Pant Commissioner and Secretary Trade (Tax). The announcement coming a few days before the Budget session
is being questioned by the Opposition parties. “The government has slyly jacked up prices before presenting the Budget. It could also have done that through the Budget, but that move would have been unpopular,” said Harak Singh Rawat, Leader of Opposition, who has threatened to hold a dharna soon. With depleting pockets, the common man will now have to pay more for food items and
daily-need items. “I am a retired banker with no government pension to bank upon. The announcement in the Budget did not do much to contain prices. Now with this announcement, I think we are in for troubled times,” said RS Mehta, a local resident. Meanwhile, angry Uttarakhand Congress leaders led by Vice-President Subodh Uniyal of State Congress Committee protested against the hike in surcharge by
burning the effigy of the state government at Astley Hall. A former city Congress President Lal Chand Sharma said the BJP
government was solely responsible for price rise. |
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Samajwadi Sabha burns FM’s effigy
Dehradun, February 28 Led by Naseem Naddaf, District Samajwadi Party President, the Yuwjan Sabha members gathered at the Clock Tower this morning before setting ablaze the effigy of Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. The sabha alleged that the Union government has failed to curb the rising prices. Making a scathing attack on the Centre, Naseem said the Central government had expressed helplessness in controlling the rising prices. He held the prices of essential commodities like vegetables and pulses were bound to rise with increasing prices of petrol and diesel. Naseem also announced that party would shortly launch a statewide agitation against the rising prices. Another Yuwjan Sabha member Ajay Kumar Mittal held that prices of essential items like edible oils, vegetables and fruits have risen to all time high and it has become very difficult for the poor to manage his daily food intake. The general secretary Ashwani Garg, district secretary Sanjay Maurya, District vice-president Vijay Nautiyal, Subhash Baluni, Ajay Semwal and Subodh Raturi were prominent Samajwadi Yuwjan Sabha members present on the occasion. |
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Narrow escape for SP activist
Dehradun, February 28 The mishap happened during the effigy-burning programme against rising prices at the Clock Tower. While setting ablaze the effigy, one the activists tried to pour petrol over the effigy when he got engulfed by the rising flames in the process. It was only after prompt intervention of one of the policemen that the activist could be saved. This is not the first time that such an incident has taken place in Dehradun. A few months back, another political activist met the same fate while trying to burn one such effigy. Interestingly, commotion can be seen in these effigy-burning protests that take place more for media publicity than to any cause. Denizens of Doon have been seeking a ban on such protests, particularly at the Clock Tower, as it proves to be an impediment for the flow of traffic and can also lead to a tragedy some day. |
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Mela admn gears up for coming festive occasions
The mela administration is gearing itself up for these major events. Informing about the steps taken ahead of these auspicious days, Mela Officer Anand Vardhan told The Tribune that all nodal officers, sector magistrates, sector police officers and nodal agencies had been strictly directed to keep a vigil in their respective sectors with total dedication and seriousness. “No one will be spared if someone involved in the mela duty is found wanting,” said Vardhan. Directing nodal agencies’ officers, Vardhan said after every two day all sector magistrates had to submit their report at the Sector Magistrate Control Room of which a copy should be forwarded to him. The Mela Officer also held a meeting of all nodal officers, sector magistrates, sector police officers and working agencies nodal officers over ensuring better facilities to the pilgrims and tourists on these festive days. DIG Alok Sharma too accepts that with these three festive occasions falling in one month there is bound to be extra cautiousness on the part of thea administration as the Maha Kumbh is on and now the number of pilgrims and devotees will be quite large than that witnessed during the previous Shahi Snan of Maha Shivratri. An additional force will reach the mela area before the end of this month along with several companies of the CRPF, CISF, RAF, SSB, ITBP and the Uttarakhand police. Newly recruited station house officers from the Moradabad police training academy will be joining the mela duties providing additional security coverage for the upcoming events. The mela officer had also directed Health Officer and Secretary, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, to get generators installed as back up at toilets specifically made for Kumbh pilgrims. A suggestion was given by Sharma that on the days of Shahi Snan on the holdups, popularly knows as ‘chakravyuhs’, sufficient water availability along with medical assistance should be made available as at these barricades sometimes devotees had to remain in queues for hours together. SSP (Mela) Ajay Rautella said the mela police was already on high alert and it’s being ensured that these festive occasions passed peacefully. Support from religious organisations is also being sought. |
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Abandoned by father, Doon hospital nurses come to boy’s aid
Dehradun, February 28 “Rajinder’s both kidneys have failed and his family members have somehow managed to buy for the dialysis kit that is vital for his survival. When we saw his plight, we decided to pay for his service charges,” said Anjana Bhowmick, staff nurse, Doon Hospital, who paid for his treatment today. On March 6, he will be coming for another dialysis, for which the nurse fraternity has agreed to pay. “One among us will pay his bill. This is all we can do for him,” said Bhowmick. An active life came to a stop when Rajinder was informed that his both kidneys had stopped functioning requiring frequent medical care. “The boy does not have a BPL card and we are keen that some monetary help comes his way so that his treatment becomes free at the Doon Hospital,” said Dr DP Joshi of the hospital. A dialysis kit costs between Rs 2,800 and Rs 3,000, which his uncle is paying, and the other medicine bills are taken care by his aunt. “I am looked after well at the hospital, but it will help if my treatment becomes free,” said Rajinder. |
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Gang circulating fake currency busted, 5 held
Dehradun, February 28 SSP Abhinav Kumar said the police got information from an informer that one member of a fake currency gang was going to use fake notes at Hanuman Chowki. The police acted fast and apprehended accused Mintu with fake currency. After questioning him, they arrested the four other accused Haidar, Nazmul, Azad and Chotu from Single Mandi sitting in a car (HR 26G-8213) with fake and real currency. Mintu said he bought fake currency through Nazmul in lieu of real currency and brought the fake currency to Delhi. Fake notes worth Rs 15,7,000 and real currency of Rs 1,15,580 were received from the accused. The help of the Intelligence Bureau and other intelligence network is being sought to make further breakthrough. Abhinav said this was the second such case cracked by the police of similar nature after the first one where the police caught three accused with Rs 60,000 fake currency on February 11. And more background detail of one accused, who had already been booked in Gurgaon, would be sought from the police of that city. He further said both cases could not be linked together because of the difference in the modus operandi. But the quality and source of fake currency was the same. He did not deny any international nexus working behind the gang and talked of taking the help of experts in the matter. |
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Murder suspect arrested
Roorkee, February 28 Verma, a third-year student of the Architecture Department here, had gone missing since Saturday from a hotel room at Shimla, where his female companion, Pragati (22), also an IIT-Delhi student, was found murdered on Saturday. SP (Rural) Roshan Lal Sharma said the accused was on his way to Ambala by the Haridwar-Barmer Link Express (No. 4887) when he was arrested by the police at 11.30 am at Jagadhri railway station. SO, GRP, Laksar, Kumari Neelam Rawat said she got information about the accused that he was travelling by train under fake name Prashant. On her information, the GRP, Jagadhri, arrested the accused from Jagadhri railway station. The police sources said both Verma and Pragati had checked in Hotel Rashik in the Kaithu area on Friday night around 3 am. On Saturday morning, the hotel staff found the body of Pragati, a third-year student of textile engineering, while there was no clue of Verma there. The police found two knives, a broken liquor bottle, a laptop of the victim, an answer-sheet of Verma and pieces of cake from the room, said the sources, adding that the victim seemed to be the girlfriend of the accused. The couple reached Shimla by cab from Delhi, said the police. The motive behind the murder is yet to be ascertained, said the police sources. On the other hand, the IIT, Roorkee authorities are avoiding all the questions on the accused, including the action against Verma. The accused stayed in Rajendra Bhawan here. Verma hails from Manikapur in Gonda district (Uttar Pradesh) whereas Pragati belonged to Patna in Bihar. The Shimla police has taken the custody of the accused. |
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Three killed as cab falls into gorge
Dehradun, February 28 According to Uttarakhand Disaster Management sources, the cab, that had a total of three passengers and was on way to Pauri from Kotdwar, lost its control at Dulanda Bend and fell into a deep gorge leading to the death of all three persons. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has expressed grief over the deaths. While praying for the peace of the departed souls, the Chief Minister has also directed for a magisterial probe to
know of the cause of the incident. |
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Kashipur to be first to have ESI Hospital
Dehradun, February 28 The state has to allocate minimum 25 acres of land, which the state government had been finding difficult to arrange. Sources in the government said a proposal to set up hospital at Escort Farm in Kashipur was being finalised, while the selection of a suitable site at either Kashipur or Pant Nagar for another hospital was still in the pipeline. Since the Centre has to bear all expenditure to be incurred on the proposed medical college, the state government had been asked to provide land almost free of cost. An ESI medical facility mainly caters to organised labour sector and industrial labour constitutes the biggest chunk of its beneficiaries. At least six medical facilities are extended to the labourers at these hospitals and Union Minister of State for Labour Harish Rawat, who is from Uttarakhand, has been pushing this project. Sources said the main hurdle in identifying the required land was the demand the state government should provide it for a token price as well as at one place close to industrial estates developed by the State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited (SIDCUL). At present, there is no ESI Hospital in the state and total 12 dispensaries are woefully inadequate. |
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Now, Shariat panel to settle disputes
Nainital, February 28 This is perhaps the first initiative undertaken by the community leadership in the region and is aimed to save people from getting into the clutches of certain fleecing lawyers who take up various civil cases. Recently, leaflets were circulated in the Jama Masjid in Mallital area of Nainital after the ‘namaz’ urging them to bring matters of dispute before religious scholars who would try to resolve them in the light of Shariat. “The purpose is to make people aware about what Islam stands for and how cordial relations can be maintained amid people and family members,” said Maulana Faizan-ul-Haq, a scholar who is a member of the committee that has been formed to look into the matters brought before it by the community members. A senior member of the community Shoaib Ahmed said, “There are matters pertaining to ‘talaq’ or property disputes among family members that need to be resolved. It is a well-known fact that if they are taken to civil courts, the parties end up being fleeced by lawyers. It also takes a very long time before a judgement is arrived at. “In many cases, lawyers are more interested in letting a dispute continue as they stand to make money. In a scenario like this, such an initiative is a welcome step.” He added that the solution suggested by the scholars of the Shariat Committee would not be binding and the disputing parties would still have the option of approaching the court if they felt so. Maulana Faizan-ul-Haq said that the present education system is aimed at promoting a materialistic lifestyle. Things like satellite television are promoting consumerism. These were some of the main reasons that discords among family members and the general population were on the increase. He said that inflated egos of the present generation add to the phenomenon. In such a scenario, people can be told to resolve their differences as per the teachings of the Koran and the Hadees. On being asked about the response to the pamphlet that was circulated, he said, “People are inquisitive. One person has approached us to resolve his dispute and we have asked him to apply to us in writing.” Kumaon has a sizable number of Muslim citizens and Nainital town has about 20 per cent Muslim population. The scholars feel that the initiative undertaken by them would help in strengthening the relations among the members of the community. |
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Forest fires: Satellite aid to foresters
Dehradun, February 28 The forest authorities greatly bank on satellite imageries for getting timely information on forest fires, which subsequently help them in a prompt remedial action on such fires. The Director, USAC, Dr MM Kimothi, said the centre had been continuously working to improve on the system and ensuring a better extension of its real-time monitoring and early-warning system
technology to the state Forest Department for minimising forest fire losses. While terming forest fires as a big threat to the rich forest wealth, Dr Kimothi said the USAC planned to hold deliberations in mid-march with senior forest officials for bettering the working of the entire system. He said a panel comprising senior ISRO scientists and top foresters would be taking part in the deliberations. Meanwhile, managing forest fires continues to be a big challenge for the state forest authorities. These fires not only damage the rich forest flora but are also detrimental to the fauna. Forest fires last year had resulted in several deaths with the forest fire in the Van Panchayat forests, Gagvadsyun patti, Pauri Garhwal district, being the most destructive. Five villagers were charred to death while they were trying to extinguish the fire. The Forest Department too has been gearing up for another challenging summer, when forest fires are most frequent. It has also activated its fire control rooms across the state for ensuring a prompt action in case of fire. To tackle this forest fire challenge, real time
monitoring continues to be of immense assistance. |
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Rights of women discussed
Dehradun, February 28 The society time and again has been organising camps in schools, temples, colleges and other prime locations in the city. Topics such as maintenance law, consumer law and other prevalent laws related to women’s rights were thoroughly discussed. College lectures and members of the society were preset at the workshop. |
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Nanaji Deshmukh’s death mourned
Dehradun, February 28 Recalling the contributions of Nanaji, Shashikant Dikshit, an RSS functionary, said he was the tallest leader who gave up everything to undertake social work among the poorest of the poor. He said Nanaji worked for the upliftment of Adivasi children and established the
first rural university at Chitrakoot. BJP state President Bishan Singh Chufal said Nanaji’s death
had left a deep void that could not be filled. |
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Rs 22 lakh granted to reconstruct nullah
Dehradun, February 28 “Renovation of the nullah will now eventually provide relief to the residents of the area as well as even lessen the burden on commuters, who face immense difficulty due to traffic chaos,” said Harbans while addressing the gathering. However, he also directed the authorities concerned to keep a track of the developments in the area. Along with
Kapoor, present at the venue were assistant engineer Surendra Kukreja, junior engineer Devendra Shah Usha Bhandari and other members. |
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Cong celebrates 125th anniversary on March 6
Dehradun, February 28 This was announced in a meeting of the Uttarakhand Congress Committee held here today. The programme was conducted under the presidency of party state president Yashpal Arya. In addition, during the programme, the members of the committee announced to submit a memorandum to Governor Margaret Alva to demand termination of the decision taken by the state government to sell 63 hydro-electric projects. The party also demanded a CBI probe into the matter. |
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Dr Rajinder Prasad remembered
Dehradun, February 28 On the occasion, Subodh Uniyal, vice-president of the state Congress, said not only did Dr Prasad participate in the freedom struggle, but the country benefited from his leadership after gaining
Independence. |
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Mr, Miss Doon auditions
Dehradun, February 28 In the first phase of the contest, aspirants showcased skills. Boys were adjudged on the basis of physique, walk, confidence and personality, and girls on the basis of skin, eyes, hair, smile, walk and personality. Out of the 200 participants, 20 girls and 20 boys were selected. The organisers for the event were Harpeet Singh, Preet
Malik, Paras Jaiswal, Abhinav Oberoi and Manu. — TNS |
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Mussoorie Palika foils encroachment attempt
Mussoorie, February 28 Acting on a complaint, the palika quickly demolished the construction and seized the shutter and other building material. |
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Haridwar, February 28