The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

	Rampur Tiraha Shootout Nishank pays tributes to statehood activists Tribune News Service Dehradun, October 2 Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank today offered tributes at the Uttarakhand State Agitation Martyrs Memorial at Rampur Tiraha. At a function held at Rampur Tiraha, Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh, Dr Nishank recalled the supreme sacrifices made by the state agitators for the cause of the creation of the separate state of Uttarakhand. Addressing the gathering, Dr Nishank said Rampur Tiraha was of immense importance for people of Uttarakhand. He said as Rampur Tiraha was directly connected to Uttarakhand, the area would be further developed in the coming days. He said tourists coming to Uttarakhand must know of Rampur Tiraha. He reminded the gathering that Uttarakhand had never been created to fulfill political ambitions, but to provide development to far-flung people of the region. He said the border areas had always faced migration due to lack of development. Nishank said it was a matter of honour for Uttarakhand that, at least, a member of the family was serving in the forces. He reiterated his government’s commitment for the development of Uttarakhand. He also held that the state government was now providing a pension of Rs 3,000 to the state agitators. The Chief Minister also inaugurated a museum and a library at Muzaffarnagar on the occasion. He also released Dhirendra Singh Ragad’s book “Uttarakhand Key Shahid” at the programme. Uttarakhand Rural Development Minister Vijaya Barathwal said Rampur Tiraha was a historic site and called for the setting up of a museum at the site. Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari Samman Parishad’s vice-president Ravindra Jugran said October 2 could never be forgotten. He also expressed gratitude to inhabitants of the Muzaffarnagar region for providing relief to state agitators during Rampur Tiraha shootout. BJP Roorkie district president Rajesh Saini, Haridwar District Magistrate Meenakshi Sundaram and other senior officials were present on the occasion. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and Dhumakot MLA Major-Gen BC Khanduri (retd) offered tributes to state agitation martyrs at the Dehradun-situated Martyrs Memorial. He called for collective efforts to realise Uttarakhand martyrs’ dreams and added that the state was yet to achieve goals for which it was formed. Meanwhile, functions were held all over the state to pay tributes to the state agitation martyrs. Six Uttarakhand state agitators were shot dead and several women activists molested in the intervening night of October 1 and 2, 1994, at Rampur Tiraha, Muzaffarnagar, when they were going to Delhi to stage a demonstration in support of separate state of Uttarakhand. Leftists stage dharna Dehradun: The Left parties and other progressive parties staged a dharna to demand punishment to the accused of the Rampur Tiraha shooting incident, help for the victims who got affected in the rain-triggered disaster and strengthen the brotherhood in the aftermath of verdict over the Ayodhya issue. CPI, CPM, Uttarakhand Parivartan Partyn (UPP), Uttarakhand Mahila Manch and Tanjeem-e-Rehunumae Millet were among the parties which participated in the dharna. The speakers of these parties held the state government responsible for the failure in executing effective disaster management. They demanded sufficient help for the victims. They also pulled up the state government for not being able to punish the perpetrators of the Rampur Tiraha shooting incident. They paid homage to the martyrs. The main speakers were CPM state secretary Vijay Rawat, CPI state secretary Samar Bhandari, spokesperson for the UPP Rajiv Kothari and leader of Mahila Manch Nirmala Bisht. U’khand martyrs remembered Haridwar: The young generation of Uttarakhand may not be much aware of the struggle and sacrifices that statehood agitators made prior to the carving of the hill state in 2000. One such turning point of the statehood agitation happened 16 years back at Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar, which still gives a shiver to the people as a barbaric act was enacted on hapless agitators from the hill districts. Remembering the seven martyrs and dozens who got injured in the violence lashed out by the Uttar Pradesh police on October 2, 1994, people and statehood fighters paid tributes to them organising several meetings in this regard. While Uttarakhand Rajya Andolankari Manch activists went to Rampur Tiraha, which now has a Shaheedi Smarak, paying homage to the martyrs and after returning from there held a tributary meeting in Haridwar. Led by Dr Amar Singh Aahitan, who had staged 26-day agitation during mid-90s, the Uttarakhand movement freedom fighters offer flowers on the smarak keeping two-minute silence in the memory of who died and also those who never returned home after the incident. The agitators in the meeting also took out a resolution that one statehood fighter, Prakash Kanti, who is now physically disabled due to a police bullet that hit him on that fateful night, would now be called as “alive martyr” as he is almost completely disabled. Statehood agitators then moved on towards the BSM trisection in Roorkee demanding the naming of the intersection after Prakash Kanti and sought assistance from other political parties and organisations to support this demand. Lamenting that after 16 years, with Uttarakhand state just to complete 10 years of its existence, the perpetrators of the heinous act were still not been given punishment, Dr Ahatiyan said the state government should look into this matter seriously. Statehood fighters also showed concern over the identification process of the freedom fighters demanding a more partial-intensive process which includes all those who seriously participated in the movement, but have been left out for no fault of theirs. State vice-president of the manch JP Pandey, while addressing the activists, pointed out that with the state still not been able to cater to the dreams and aspirations of the statehood agitators who had conceived of a developed and prosperous hill state when they started pressing for the separate statehood, the respective state governments failed to usher development in hilly districts. “Hill districts are still reeling under various problems, in fact, migration due to lack of employment opportunities aided by neglect from our own hilly political leaders, the aspirations of the people of the state have been not met which is quite surprising as a decade has passed since Uttarakhand was carved out from erstwhile Uttar Pradesh,” said Pandey. Mira Raturi, Vinod Dhandriyal, Keshav Dev Semwal, Chaudhiar Afzal Alwi, Shamsher Khan, Shahnawaj Khan, Sarita Purohit, Saroj Devradi, Dharampal Bharti, Chandravati Guard, Kamla Pandey, Nathi Juyal, Suresh Mamgain, RM Manral, Sudan Dabral, Rishi Ballabh Chamoli, Bhagwan Singh Uttarakhadi, Dalbir Pokhriyal were among other statehood fighters who paid obeisance at Rampur Tiraha. Residents pay homage Nainital: Besides celebrating the birth anniversary of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi today, people of the region also paid homage to victims of the Rampur Tiraha incident. Social activists gathered near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Tallital and staged a dharna seeking justice for the victims of the incident. The case pertains to the police firing on unarmed Uttarakhand activists at Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar district in Uttar Pradesh on the intervening night of October 1 and 2 in 1994. The activists, who were part of the agitation for the separate state of Uttarakhand, were going to Delhi to stage a dharna at the Raj Ghat the following day, when the alleged unprovoked police firing in the night of October 1 led to the death of six activists. Some women were allegedly raped and molested in the ensuing melee. Mulayam Singh Yadav, who is still perceived to be “anti-Uttarakhand” by a large section of the population of the state, was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh when the incident had occurred. The activists, including members of the Uttarakhand Lok Vahini, also chose the occasion to lash out at the successive governments in the state since its formation for failing to address the needs and aspirations of the people. They criticised the governments for not framing people-oriented and people-friendly policies while ignoring the plight of the residents in the remote areas of the state. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party (UPP) in a memorandum to Governor Margaret Alva and Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhariyal Nishank has demanded constitution of a commission for punishing those responsible for the Rampur Tiraha case. The party has demanded immediate arrest of accused in the incident, along with a ban on politicians and bureaucrats protecting the accused from entering the state. The UPP has also attacked the governments led by the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), along with its coalition partner Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), for failing to pursue the matter against the accused and misleading the public with mere statements.
	Priyanka Gandhi in Mussoorie Our Correspondent Mussoorie, October 2 Priyanka Gandhi, daughter of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, arrived in Mussoorie yesterday with her family. She was supposed to come by helicopter, but instead travelled by road from the Jolly Grant airport in a cavalcade of luxury cars along with Priya Singh, daughter of an industrialist, at DLF Estate near Hathipaon in Mussoorie. However, Priyanka remained confined yesterday inside the estate. Even today, she did not celebrate Gandhi Jayanti in the town crashing the hopes of many Congressmen in the town. Her children, Raihan and Miraya, enjoyed a horse ride to the historic George Everest House, the place from where renowned surveyor George Everest mapped Mt Everest. The house is now in a dilapidated condition. Priyanka was also seen following her children in a luxury car. The family returned after dusk to the estate. Priyanka was accompanied by her husband Robert Vadhera. The Nehru-Gandhi family has close affinity with Mussoorie. Jawaharlal Nehru was also fond of horse riding and did so in Mussoorie as well.
	Follow Gandhiji’s ideals, says Alva Tribune News Service Dehradun, October 2 To commemorate birth anniversaries of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and second Prime Minister of India Lal Bahadur Shastri, several functions were held here today. At a simple event held at the Raj Bhawan, Governor Margaret Alva garlanded the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri. Alva said Gandhiji not only fought for the freedom, but also for eradicating poverty, inequality, illiteracy and other evils. She urged people to follow his ideals. Raising the slogan of “Jai Jawan-Jai Kisan” of Shastri, she said he had an invaluable role in the service of the nation. Famous environmentalist Sunder Lal Bahuguna, along with his wife, was also present on the occasion. They ran a charkha to express their gratitude to Gandhiji. Nishank pays obeisance Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri at his residence and the Gandhi Park here today. He offered garlands to the portraits of the two greats of the nation. Nishank said, “To build India as Gandhiji dreamt of, we all should follow his path and work together. Thoughts of Gandhiji have been accepted worldwide and that is why this day is celebrated as the International Non-Violence Day”. Chief Secy pays homage In a programme organised at the Secretariat to mark the birth anniversary of two greats of the nation, Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar garlanded the portraits of Gandhi and Shastri. Kumar urged people to follow their ideals and principles. “By following the principles of the two greats, we can work for the welfare of people and in their interests”. Function held at police HQ A function was organised at the state police headquarters. Jyoti Swaroop Pandey, Director-General of Police (DGP), paid homage to the two greats of the nation. Other senior police officers and staff members were also present at the event. They all offered garlands to the portraits of the two legends. A blood donation camp was also organised at the police headquarters, in which 34 police officers and employees donated blood. Khanduri remembers leaders Former Chief Minister Major-Gen BS Khanduri (retd) remembered Gandhiji and Shastri on their birth anniversary by paying homage to them at the Gandhi Park here. Khanduri said the two had a great role in making the nation of world repute. They lived a simple life and inspired others to do well. Other officials present with him also paid the homage. Sarafa Mandal distributes woollens The Sarafa Mandal, Dehradun, distributed winter clothes among the poor on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Members of the mandal remembered Gandhiji and paid obeisance to his portrait during a function. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, Uttarakhand Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited, Bar Association, Mahanagar Congress Committee and Mahanagar Mahila Congress Committee, Dehradun, also remembered Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri at different functions held here today. Cong men remember Bapu, Shastri Haridwar: On the 141st birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 106th birth anniversary of second PM Lal Bahadur Shastri, people paid homage to the two great leaders. Various programmes were held in the district stressing on the need of following Gandhi’s principles, particularly in present times. The city Congress unit organised a homage programme at the Shaheedi Park near Kotwali police station, where activists offered flowers and prayed for the peace of the departed souls. City Congress chief OP Chauhan emphasised on the need of adhering to Gandhi’s principles, who preached love, harmony, peace, brotherhood and also concept of swadeshi. Free distribution of fruits was also carried out at district hospitals by party activists with the support of various social activists. The Vishwa Ektam Mission celebrated the day by distributing woollens and blankets to flood-affected people in Haridwar. Chief of the mission renowned spiritual guru Yogeshwar Pushpnandan Maharaj and said in view of the flood havoc observing Gandhi’s birth anniversary seemed befitting in helping the affected people. The mission in the past few days has distributed thousands of packets of food items, fruits, ration, clothes, tents and other needful things in the flood-affected regions. Its trustee Rajeev Kapoor said mission activists and saints had come forward to help people in this time of need. Gandhi Jayanti celebrated ROORKEE: Gandhi Jayanti was celebrated with full fervour. Large numbers of citizens gathered at the Gandhi Ashram to offer tributes to the Father of the Nation. “Each year the Gandhi Jayanti celebration brings members of the community together. It’s nice to see the younger generation coming forward,” said freedom fighter Satyavadi Sinha. She also narrated her going to jails and Bapu’s devotion and contribution to the country to bring freedom. She appealed to the younger generation to follow the path of Bapu and spread his message worldwide. On this occasion, a few of Bapu’s favourite bhajans “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” and “Vaisha bhajan to” were also sung. A blood donation camp was organised by the Municipal Corporation where 40 units of blood was donated by its staff members. Pradeep Batra, Chairman of the Municipal Corporation, said “It’s a great occasion for citizens of free India to pay homage to our leaders .” Tributes were also paid at BMS Inter College by the college management as well as by students. Students recite bhajans Mussoorie: The birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri were celebrated here today. MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, along with town residents, paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Shastri by hoisting the national flag and garlanding the statue at the Library Bazar. Students of Oak Grove, Ghananand Inter College, Sanatan Dharam and other schools remembered the two revered personalities by taking out morning processions amid the chants of “Gandhiji, Shastriji Amar Rahe”. The schools also organised bhajans that were dear to Gandhiji on the occasion. Old residents also reminisced the days spent by Lal Bahadur Shastri and Gandhiji in Mussoorie. Rajpur MLA Ganesh Joshi, Mussoorie MLA Jot Singh Gunsola and Nagar Palika President OP Uniyal remembering the two stalwarts, appealed to the gathering to follow the path shown by these leaders. Earlier, at another function, five eminent personalities of Mussoorie were felicitated. Sardar Kripal Singh, Vipin Chand, Neerja Pandhi and Surendar Prakash were honoured with the award of Mussoorie Ratan. However, the absence of BJP workers from the public function at the Library Bazar was felt by other political parties who termed it as unfortunate. Mussoorie BJP president Roop Singh Kathait said as they were busy with a function at the Gandhi Niwas Society, they failed to attend the function. Former economics teacher HP Bhatt, a true Gandhian, was honoured at Oak Grove. School Principal Anurag Tripathi said Bhatt in his career followed the path shown by Gandhiji. Former student Jeevan Chauhan said Bhatt had always believed in simple living and high thinking.
	Promoting U’khand culture online Tribune News Service Dehradun, October 2 Mountain Shepherds Initiatives Private Limited took a giant leap today when it launched an online shopping site, Angwal, where people across the world will be able to purchase literature, music, handicrafts and films, all related to life and culture of Uttarakhand on the Internet. Sunil Kainthola, Director of the company, said with this move, the estimated population of 50 lakh NRIs, who hailed from Uttarakhand, would be able to pick stuff of their own interest from this site. He said, “People who have been working for decades out of limelight will be able to get recognition as well as money for their hard work. This site will also help in spreading the awareness regarding the composite culture of the state,” he said. Sunil also cast light on the fact that the souvenirs pertaining to the state culture had been missing from the market for all these years and this new opportunity would fill that gap. The vast literature of the state would be available in English, Hindi, Garhwali and Kumaoni languages. Quality would prevail over the selection of items. And since the portal had been created to give a representation to the state culture, things, which did not fall in this line, would not be approved, he added. He also decried the fact that albums cut by artistes were instantly downloaded by YouTube which reached lakhs of people in a jiffy without benefiting the artistes in the process, and stressed that in their new venture, the artistes, especially people associated with handicrafts, would be able to earn profits by selling their products online.
	Govt pensioners begin three-day hunger strike Tribune News Service Dehradun, October 2 Retired government pensioners began their three-day hunger strike at the Gandhi Park here today. General Secretary PD Gupta said they had a number of demands. Topping these was, first, giving benefits of the Sixth Pay Commission to pensioners above 80 years and stalling recovery from them; second, pensioners who retired before November 9, 2000, should be provided with medical claims, pension, benefits of the 6th Pay Commission etc; third, the disposal of cases, long pending before Uttarakhand was made, by getting records from Uttar Pradesh; fourth, treatment of pensioners in private hospitals by issuing smart cards to them; fifth, to recognise those who observed 94-day strike as statehood strugglers with identity cards; and, fifth, pensioners should be given the benefit of administrative officer-Grade II. They also demanded copies of all orders released from the state government with regard to their issues. On the first day, state president RS Parihar, SP Uniyal, Chatar Singh Rawat, SP Rathuri and Narayan Singh sat on hunger strike.
	Gram pradhans to join stir in Doon Our Correspondent Pitthoragarh, October 2 A group of gram pradhans of the district today set for Dehradun to take part in a sit-in agitation before the Vidhan Sabha being held by the state unit of the Gram Pradhan Sangathan since September 15. “To take our constitutional rights, our group will stage a dharna for two days from tomorrow,” said Prem Chandra Punera, district president of the sangathan. According to sangathan state president Surendra Singh Negi, their organisation is sitting on a dharna in front the state Assembly to press nine-point demand chart, which includes the formation of ideal Panchayati Raj Act keeping the specific geographical situation of the state in mind and giving financial rights to panchayat in all 29 departments which have been cited by the Constitutional Amendment Act 73- 74. “Besides, we demand the gram pradhans be given representation in the district planning committees and giving honorarium of Rs 15,000 to each gram pradhan and creating a gram pradhan nidhi on the lines of consolidated funds being given to every MLA for development of his constituency,” said Negi. “All 7,541 gram pradhans are systematically taking part in the agitation which was followed by our symbolic agitation in June,” said Negi. Sangathan sources said the dharna would continue till the Chief Minister came to the agitation spot and accepted the demands of the sangathan. “The Panchayati Raj Minister met the agitators on September 21 with Director of the Panchayati Raj of the state and assured us to give one-week time to the Chief Minister to study our demands, but we told to the minister that we would continue the dharna till the Chief Minister came to the dharna site,” added Negi.
	Jains take out shobha yatra Tribune News Service Haridwar, October 2 A grand religious procession, organised by the Kankhal-based Jain community, in which were displayed various tableaus aided by musical bands, passed through city streets. Prior to the procession, Digambar Jain Sadhwi Aryika 105 Sunaymati Mataji termed non-violence and truth as the two sides of the same coin. Mata Aryika emphasised that where non-violence is implied, truth itself comes out. Reffering to people who take oath on religious epics to speak the truth, but speak untruth, she said such people put nails on the truth, which was a blow to humanity. After the procession, a grand 108 Kalsh-Abhishek was done at Shri Mandir by the devotees. Among others who coordinated the rath yatra were Narendra Jain, Ravinandan Kumar Jain, Vakilanand Jain, Anil Jain, Subash, Ajay, Amit, Ashok, Baleshchand, Ravinandan, Rajesh, Vijay, Vinay, Satish, Vinay Poddar, Adarsh, Gajendra and Prakash, aided by thousands of followers.