|
|
|
|
Another term likely for Cong chief
Kailash Mansarovar pilgrim slipped giving side to pony
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
Injured tusker succumbs to injury
Pant seeks probe into Pandey’s killing
Sparsh Ganga to be theme of state tableau
Bank Scam: Cashier sent to judicial remand
Merchant Navy Ship Hijack
Dry season halves Kumaon potato yield
Woman forced to deliver baby on roadside; probe ordered
Honour Killing
Another sex racket busted
Uttarakhand, UP Income Tax Depts conduct joint raids
|
|
Another term likely for Cong chief
Dehradun, July 14 Already the exercise to elect 160 members of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has been completed with senior party leaders getting elected from 70 assembly segments of the state. These 160 PCC members are supposed to elect the state Congress president next week. However, as per the indications and the norm followed from the block level in the elections so far, it was likely that Congress high command will recommend the state party chief again for the top post after consultation with various factional leaders. Arya and Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Harak Singh Rawat have been called by senior party leaders in new Delhi for consultations. According to party sources, Arya, who has the backing of two other senior leaders namely Satpal Maharaj, MP from Pauri Garhwal, and Vijay Bahuguna, MP from Tehri Garhwal, is likely to be given another term despite opposition from a powerful camp of Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Harish Rawat. It was believed that the party high command was not in a mood to change Arya who is the Dalit face of the party in the hill state. Moreover, it was under the leadership of Arya that the Congress won all five Lok Sabha seats in the 2009 parliamentary elections. It was after a long time that Dalits in the Terai plains who even after the formation of Uttarakhand in November, 2000, had been voting for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), shifted in favour of the Congress giving landslide victory to the party in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. The BSP had won seven seats in the first-ever assembly elections of Uttarakhand in 2002 and improved its tally by one seat in the 2007 assembly polls. With the next assembly elections in uttarakhand and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh slated in 2012, the Congress high command reportedly did not want to change a Dalit leader to give a wrong message. Moreover, most of the senior party positions are occupied by “Thakurs”, another dominant caste in the state. Harish Rawat, Harak Singh Rawat and Sarojini Kainthura, state Mahila Congress chief, are all Thakurs by caste. According to party sources, the party high command did mull over having Vijay Bahuguna, a Brahmin as party chief, but his sister Reeta Joshi Bahuguna is party chief in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. This went against Bahuguna who himself threw his weight behind Arya, a protégé of former Chief Minister ND Tiwari. The Harish Rawat camp was eyeing the post in view of the coming assembly elections in the state. But, it was believed that senior party leaders including party general secretary in charge RK Dhawan was in favour of continuation of Arya. |
|
|
Kailash Mansarovar pilgrim slipped giving side to pony
Pitthoragarh, July 14 “The 20-km stretch between Gala and Bundi is the most risky on the whole trek route and needs strong railing on the river side for the safety of the pilgrims,” said Gupta. “Besides, there is no communication connectivity at this place due to which no incident could be reported anywhere,” he said, demanding a communication connectivity at Malpa. “Fortunately, I was having a satellite phone with me through which I could communicate the incidence to the ITBP authorities,” said Gupta. According to district administration sources, the body of Jagtav is yet to be traced and rescue team is on the job.
|
|
|
Injured tusker succumbs to injury
Haridwar, July 14 The tusker was given life-saving injections, glucose (as a medical report pointed low level of glucose in the tusker’s body) and flour-mixed tablets, but as he was not taking any food nor drinking water, medical treatment of the tusker’s fractured leg became complex and as feared by the medical team, the tusker didn’t survive. The death of the tusker in the Raja Ji National Park, which is a protected abode for elephants, has once again shed light on the lessening gap of male-female elephants in Uttarakhand. Raja Ji Park forest authorities tried every bit, but as the injured tusker was not taking any food and water, his condition deteriorated fast leaving the medical team with fewer options. Raja Ji National Park Director SS Rassailly terms the death of the tusker as a matter of concern as already the ratio of male-female elephants in the state is huge and will certainly impact the population of elephants. Forest Officer GS Rana said the tusker was found in the Chidiyapur range two days ago in an injured condition and since then attempts were made to save him. Among those who constantly monitored the tusker’s health were Dr Parag Nigam, Dr Satya Priya Gautam, Dr Hari Prasad, Chidiyapur Deputy Ranger KS Negi, Ranger Satpal Saini and several park employees.
|
|
|
Pant seeks probe into Pandey’s killing
Pitthoragarh, July 14 He was speaking at a condolence meeting held in the memory of Pandey, which was organised by a human rights organisation here today. People from various walks of life, from across various political parties, Bar Association, social and media organisations paid tributes to Pandey. They said according to their knowledge he was a freelance journalist committed to causes of common people. “I will request the Chief Minister to grant some financial assistance to the family of the slain journalist,” said Suresh Joshi, state BJP general secretary. Kanalichina Congress MLA Mayukh Singh Mahar, chairman of Pitthoragarh Nagar Palika Parishad Rajendra and Congress District Chief Mahendra Lunthi were among those who paid tributes to the slain journalist. |
|
|
Sparsh Ganga to be theme of state tableau
Dehradun, July 14 The Uttarkhand Information and Public Relations Department has issued tender notices to companies for the preparation of the tableau. Vimal Bhai of the Matu Sangathan that opposed big dams on the Ganga described the Sparsh Ganga drive as a farce. He said a mere talking of Sparsh Ganga as means to clean and maintain the flow of of the Ganga won’t do particularly when the political leadership was inclined to use every stretch of the Ganga in Uttarakhand for the construction of power projects. He pointed out that it was strange that while World Bank on the one hand was giving funds for the projects to clean the Ganga like the Sparsh Ganga campaign, on the other it was also giving funds for the construction of the 444 MW Pipalkoti Vishnugad project coming up in Chamoli district. The state government has recently launched the campaign with the aim of cleaning the sacred river and its tributaries. Former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani was present at a programme of the campaign at Gangotri on May 17. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank too had said his government had resolved to clean the Ganga. He has even solicited the services of Bollywood actress Hema Malini as brand ambassador of the campaign. Hema said she had willingly accepted the responsibility, as she was quite happy to lend support to the cause of making the Ganga pollution free. |
|
|
Bank Scam: Cashier sent to judicial remand
Dehradun, July 14 The bank management had suspended four officials of the bank — Manager RC Sunwal, cashier Niranjan Kumar, C Lal (another bank official) and class IV employee Rishi Kumar for their alleged involvement on Saturday. The cashier was caught by the CBI for allegedly not depositing Rs 1.09 crore in the bank. He allegedly used to show the money on records, but didn’t deposit it. — TNS |
|
Merchant Navy Ship Hijack
Dehradun, July 14 A peaceful demonstration at the Gandhi Park followed by a candle march was held here today. Overwhelmed by the gushing response from society, Sandeep’s mother Rama Dangwal complained of government’s unconcern on the issue. She informed that a personal secretary of the Chief Minister visited them couple of days ago to hand over a copy of the letter which CM had written to the Central government to take action on the matter. “Hundreds of such letters would be reaching to the Centre government every day. It is futile unless CM himself does not take active interest in the matter”. Virender Jugran, BJP leader, said with this dharna, they would plan out their next move to meet the CM and the Governor. “The demonstration held here is to attract the attention of the state government to mobilise it to pressurise the Central government to move things up in Somalia. If the state government remains sleepy throughout, our responses too will become fiercer and wider,” said the demonstrator. Congress leader Lal Chand Sharma said it was the high time that the state government drew up a strategy to deal with such cases, which were on a constant rise. Famous litterateur Atul Sharma said the state government needed to be sensitive towards the disastrous upheavals in public life and respond to it well in time. Jagmohan Mehndiratta, member of the Uttaranchal Bank Association, took a day off from his work schedule to be with the family saying, “Sandeep Dangwal is son of Uttarakhand. We are with him, if not the politicians. If a politician’s son had got kidnapped, then the entire government would have moved into a mode of urgency to get him released”. Jeet Singh, City President of the All-India Trade Union Congress, dared the state government saying if it did not swing into action, they as per the nature of their unions would take to every street of the city. President of an NGO, Srishti Foundation, Nitin Malik who accompanied the family in meeting BJP leader Rajnath Singh in Delhi said, “BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad held a press conference on Sandeep’s case. But overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi did not give us time despite umpteen efforts. If the CM urges him, he can certainly enroll the Somali Embassy and ship company to expedite their responses in this matter”. Madan Kumar Kamboj, ex-serviceman whose son-in-law
|
|
Dry season halves Kumaon potato yield
“The yield of potato crop, a main commercial crop of Champawat district, which was 419 metric tonne in 2009-10, has witnessed more than 40 per cent reduction this year,” said GS Bhandari, Agriculture Officer, Champawat. According to a horticulture officer of the district, the main reason of this decrease in the potato yield is due to dry season during last winter. “This year from February to April there was a lack of moisture in the fields in Kumaon,” said Dyalu Ram, District Horticulture Officer, Champawat. More than 6,000 framers are cultivating potato crop on 2,500 hectares. “More than 30 localities, comprising more than 100 villages, are growing potato for years. They farmers are now facing problem of repaying agriculture loans which they have taken for raising their potato crop,” said Dyalu. “Despite a sharp decline in local production of potato, the farmers are getting less than RS 10 a kg price for the crop in the town whereas the traders are selling it for more than at Rs 20 a kg citing the reason for decline in production,” said Shankar Pandey, a potato grower of Champawat. Similarly, Pitthoragarh district is also facing a decline in the production of potato. “In Pitthoragarh district, more than 700 metric tonne of potato is grown only for seed, which faced a decline in production as it is cultivated in moisture-rich higher valleys,” said Narendar Kumar, District Horticulture Officer, Pitthoragarh. He said unlike the seed production more than 2,000 potato growers in Pitthoragarh district faced 30 or 40 per cent reduction in potato production mainly in the valleys of Dharchula and Munsiyari, where the main commercial crop of farmers is potato only.
|
|
Woman forced to deliver baby on roadside; probe ordered
Nainital, July 14 According to information, one Noorjahan of the Paharganj locality had got admitted to the government hospital in Rudrapur amidst labour pains yesterday morning for a safe delivery. Her husband Ayub was told to get her various tests done following which the doctors opined that she had medical complications. The woman was referred to the government hospital in Haldwani. Ayub allegedly pleaded before the doctors that he did not have the money to shift his wife to Haldwani, but she was referred out forcibly. Just as the couple, along with other family members, waited at the gate of the hospital for a vehicle to take Noorjahan home, she fell down and delivered a healthy baby on the roadside. Chief Medical Superintendent (CMS) Dr JC Durgapal has ordered a probe into the incident and assured that the guilty will not be spared. The incident has raised several questions about the implementation of much-touted women welfare schemes of the government.
|
|
Honour Killing
Dehradun, July 14 Doctors at the Doon Hospital, who had attended on the duo some days earlier, recommended admitting them to the hospital. But Jyoti and Rajni, however, were adamant and said that they would continue their strike till the murderers of Meena Gola were arrested. Several organisations today went to the Gandhi Park to render support to the agitation. Jeet Singh Uttarakhand, CPI leader, said it was a matter of concern that the government had failed to act despite the hunger strike entering its eighth day today. Uttarakhand Mahila Manch’s Padma said the fight against honour killing was a fight of every Uttarakhandi women and girl. Chandrakanta Garg, general secretary, Women’s Congress, asserted that while the state government was responsive to the issues concerning MLAs, the plight of ordinary citizens was of no concern for it. CPM leader Surendra Singh Rajwar called for a collective fight against honour killing.
|
|
Another sex racket busted
Nainital, July 14 Those arrested include two girls from Laxmi Nagar locality. There were three youths with them, out of which two managed to flee while one has been nabbed. Ironically, the accused had brought a schoolboy with them so that they did not arouse any suspicion. The boy has been let off after questioning. The police seized performance-enhancing chocolates, other pornographic material and a laptop from them. The busting of the racket follows nabbing of five youths and four girls in a compromising position at a hotel on the Rampur road in Haldwani last week. Those arrested included the Deputy Manager of the hotel, while the Manager had managed to flee from the spot. Sources said yet another raid had been carried out in the same hotel to nab the manager, but the effort proved to be fruitless. Father sells girl for liquor
A startling case of a man trading off his daughter to get money for his liquor has come to light from the Dineshpur area of Udham Singh Nagar. According to information, 20-year-old victim had lost her mother in 2003. Her father, identified as Hyat Singh, is a retired personnel of the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB). They had been living as tenants in the house of one Jasvir Kaur in the Gandhinagar locality. The father often used to thrash the girl and her younger brother, while being in an inebriated condition. He allegedly traded his girl with his landlady for Rs 30,000. Thereafter, the girl was pressurised into getting married against her wishes. She was repeatedly beaten by her father when she refused to get married. Yesterday, she managed to approach the police, who initially challaned Jasvir Kaur, one Satyawati, who is said to be her sister, and a youth named Rahul who is said to be her son. However, when the public raised a hue and cry, a case was registered against the three, along with her father, and they were arrested. The girl has been handed over to her uncle. Elderly duped of Rs 45,000
Dehradun: An elderly man was duped of Rs 45,000 by an unidentified youth at ICICI Bank on the New Cantt Road here today. The youth on the pretext of helping the man took away his money. Victim Vijay Agarwal, a resident of the Raipur Road, alleged that an unidentified youth in his early 20s, asked him to help in depositing the cash. The youth got the deposit slip and at the time of filling the form Agarwal gave him the money. However, to his surprise the youth fled away from the bank with the money. The police was later informed of the matter. Dhara Police Post in charge Chanderbhaan told The Tribune that they started looking for the youth in the area on the basis of his appearance described by the victim. |
|
Uttarakhand, UP Income Tax Depts conduct joint raids
Dehradun, July 14 As per the sources in the IT Department, crores of unaccounted property is expected to be recovered during the raids. The raids are being conducted mainly on the properties of four prominent persons of Dehradun- Rajiv Kumar Rana, Mohit Butola, Anil Kumar Garg and Durga Verma. Sources added that the four had accumulated unaccounted money through land developing. The four were also said to be dealing in the business of banking, pharmaceutical companies, hotels and educational institutions. The raids were conducted at various locations, including Rajpur, Sahastradhara and Miyanawala. Roughly 200 officials from all over Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are conducting raids in Dehradun, the sources informed. The teams are led by Chitranjan Dash, Joint Director (investigation), along with PL Kureel, Deputy Director (investigation) and AS Rana, Assistant Director (investigation) of the Income Tax Department.
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Classified | Suggestion | E-mail | |
There are indications that present Uttarakhand Congress chief Yashpal Arya will be repeated by the Congress high command in the organisational elections taking place in the state. Interestingly, right from the lower level, all office-bearers of the party.
Pitthoragarh, July 14
Dehradun, July 14
Dehradun, July 14
Pitthoragarh, July 14