Dehradun, November 19
After Rattan Tata, it was yoga guru Baba Ramdev who alleged that he was asked to pay Rs 2 crore by a Uttarakhand Minister for doing some work, creating a political storm in Uttarakhand. Baba Ramdev during his visit to Gonda in Uttar Pradesh publicly alleged that he was asked by a Uttarakhand minister from Haridwar two years ago to pay a bribe of Rs 2 crore for some work related with his institution. He further charged that when he complained to the state Chief Minister, he was in turn told that the minister should not have asked for bribe but should have asked for a donation from him.

The statement created a political storm in Uttarakhand with the Congress burning an effigy of the Uttarakhand BJP government demanding its resignation while an incensed former Chief Minister, Major-Gen BC Khanduri (retd), refuted the allegations by Baba Ramdev.

Addressing a press conference here today, General Khanduri said he had the highest regard for the work being done by Baba Ramdev but refuted allegations that Swami Ramdev met him to complain against any of his ministers. “He never met in this regard during my tenure,” he emphatically said.

Khanduri claimed that he was totally against corruption and during his tenure as a union cabinet minister or Uttarakhand Chief Minister has acted tough against any allegation of corruption that came to his notice. “I started an inquiry by Central vigilance Commission (CVC) in my own ministry when a small newspaper in Punjab published allegations of corruption. Later as Chief Minister, I took action in cases of alleged corruption that came to my knowledge,” he claimed.

He requested Baba Ramdev to state when the incident took place took place. “There is even confusion regarding the timing of the reported incident. Baba Ramdev said it was two years ago while his deputy Swami Balkrishan said it was one and half years ago,” Khanduri said.

He also asked the yoga guru to announce the name of the minister who demanded bribe from him and to which Chief Minister he complained and on which date. Pointing towards the internecine war within Uttarakhand ruling BJP, Khanduri further charged that attempts are being made since his removal as Chief Minister to malign him. In a dig at the present BJP government he said that the reputation of Uttarakhand has suffered due to various alleged corruption cases.

Nainital, November 19
The Haldwani bandh call given by activists of the Aapda Prabhavit Jan Sangharsh Samiti on the issue of construction of a bridge across the Gaula river was withdrawn after a defensive government came out with an order sanctioning Rs 10.25 crore for the project last night.

The activists had been agitating in Haldwani for more than a fortnight and the movement had been gaining momentum with all Opposition parties and public groups extending their support to it. The decision of the government is being seen as a major victory for the people’s movement in the area. The agitators went ahead with their plan to hold a demonstration carrying mashaals on Thursday night. Earlier, Congress leader Indira Hridayesh and the state president of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Raja Bahuguna had addressed them during the day.

According to reports, the government while coming out with an order sanctioning the funds has called for the construction of the bridge as per the guidelines of the Centre. It has also asked District Magistrate Shailesh Bagauli to supervise the construction and to ensure that all recommendations given by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, are adhered to while constructing the bridge.

The state government has called for the execution of the project on schedule and has sought a status report by the end of this financial year.

The construction of the bridge across the Gaula river had snowballed into a contentious issue over the past few days. Agitated over the delay in the execution of the ambitious project that was devastated during the calamity unleashed by the rains in September, the people of the Gaula Par region, along with others, had launched a massive protest that was marked by a continuing dharna by the activists of the Aapda Prabhavit Jan Sangharsh Samiti.

Supported by the Opposition parties, including the Congress, the issue had snowballed into a political fight between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with both the sides resorting to effigy burning over the issue. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was also supporting the agitation.

The agitation had got further impetus when the cabinet minister Bansidhar Bhagat had accused the Congress and the agitators of misguiding the people while claiming that work on the project was being carried out effectively.

The Gaula Par area has been one of the worst affected places in the recent rain-related disaster. Known for its quality agricultural produce, the farmers of the region suffered heavy losses for several days as they were unable to transport the produce to the Haldwani wholesale market.

Dehradun, November 19
The state Congress Committee observed the 93rd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi, here today.

Congress leaders pay tributes to Indira Gandhi in Mussoorie on Friday.

At a function organised at Congress Bhawan, Congress MLA, Dinesh Agarwal, described Indira as “the Iron Lady”. He recalled Indira’s contribution in visualising and making the modern India.

Dehradun Mahanagar Congress Committee leaders, led by Mahanagar Congress President, Harish Virmani, reached the Akhil Bhartiya Mahila Ashram at Lakshman Chowk and distributed fruits and sweets to its inmates.

He referred to Indira’s role in women empowerment and in uplifting the deprived sections of the society.

Vice-President of the Mahanagar Congress, Punam Garg, Deep Vohra ,Pankaj Bhatt and Mayukh Negi were among the congress workers, who also visited the Mahila Ashram.

Mussoorie (OC): Congress workers from Mussoorie gathered early morning at the Congress Bhavan near the Jhoola Ghar to pay rich tributes to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 92nd birth anniversary. Mussoorie Congress president Bhagwan Singh Dhanai, vice-president BP Kukreti, newly elected Mussoorie Mahila Congress president Geeta Kumain, ward member Jasvir Kaur and several other Congress leaders offered floral tributes at the portrait of Indira and pledged to tread the path shown by her.

Dhanai said Indira was revered by all country men and her supreme sacrifice would never be forgotten. Geeta Kumain, also spoke.

Haridwar: On the 93rd birth anniversary of India’s first women and third Prime Minister Indira Gandhi the nation paid homage to the great visionary leader. Haridwar residents too paid their tributes to her at various functions held across the district.

One of the longest serving women Prime Minister in the world, people remembered Indira for her political acumen as well as her charismatic personality which put her among the top world leaders. City Congressmen paid floral tributes to the great leader at the Subash Ghat-situated party office.

Addressing the gathering, city unit chief OP Chauhan termed Indira as a visionary who knew best how to put forward India on the path of development at domestic and international levels. He cited her 15-year term as Prime Minister in which the Congress gained full majority in Parliament owing to excellent handling of governmental affairs by Indira.

“Indira Gandhi while on one hand worked for the poor aggressively, on the other she didn’t hesitate or bow down to the western world pressure on conducting nuclear tests in 1974 at Pokhran. Under Indira, the Intense Agricultural District Programme (IADP) was launched which revolutionised the agro sector in the country. White Revolution related with milk and food security programmes all helped India attain self-sufficiency in food and milk products.

Social activist Madhukant Giri said Indira had the dynamism and charisma which was rarely seen among world leaders and that’s why she had her own place among world leaders.

Other leaders and citizens who were present were Tej Prakash Sahu, BP Tejiyan, Poonam Bhagat, Bhoopendra Rajput, Mahendra Saini, Virendra Shramik, Sandeep Mehta, Rajesh Verma, ManiRam Jakhmola, Arjun Negi among others.

Activists of the Uttarakhand Vikas Manch carried out a peace march alongside of Ganga ghats to pay tributes to Indira and urged all to unite against the war against terrorism which took the life of Indira Gandhi, who refused to bow against militants.

Founder of the manch Sanjay Chopra said that her decision to allow army to clear the Golden

Women Congress general secretary Poonam Bhagat also spoke.

Dehradun, November 19
Devotees bowed down before Guru Granth Sahib when a nagar kirtan led by Panj Pyaras took off from Adat Bazar today.

The procession was organised by the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha and comprised a pipe band, women devotees, students from school and college and gatka (martial art) experts. The nagar kirtan passed through Patel Nagar, Saharnpur Road, Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Prince Chowk, Gandhi Road, Ghanta Ghar, Paltan Bazar and culminated at Gurdwara Singh Sabha at 7.30 am. The devotees were offered sweetened drinks, fruit and sweets as well.

President of the Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Rajender Singh Rajan, vice-president Dalip Singh, Manjit Singh Sudan, general secretary, Gulzar Singh, JS Chabra, Didar Singh, Gurucharan Singh, Malik Singh and Gurmit Singh Duggal were also present.

Pitthoragarh, November 19
Though the BJP government maintains a distance from the Nehruvian values in political behaviour and criticises the Congress on these lines, it has recognised the contribution of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to the development of India. The government is observing a Kaumi Ekta Saptah starting from today, ie the birthday of Indira Gandhi.

According to Pitthoragarh District Magistrate, NS Negi, the district administration has received a letter from the Under Secretary, Department of Home, to observe the week as a community goodwill week.

“To begin with, all schools and colleges in the district and government offices will take an oath on keeping national unity intact on November 19,” Negi said.

Congress leaders, commenting on this celebration, say during the Congress rule, the community goodwill week used to be observed from November 14, the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and culminated on November 19, the birthday of Indira Gandhi. “Though the BJP government has shifted this Congress tradition from November 19 onwards, at least they recognise Indira Gandhi indirectly,” said Mathura Datt Joshi, state spokesman for the state Congress committee.

According to the programmme, SPs and Chief Development Officers (CDOs) of each district have been instructed to ensure the oath-taking ceremony is held in every office and observe November 19 as national integration day, November 20 as minority welfare day, November 21 as linguistic goodwill day, November 22 as weaker sections day November 23 as culture unity day, November 24 as women day and November 25 as climate protection day.

“During this time all schools of the district have been directed to stage programmes on related subjects and ensure that every student participates, and takes the oath to be non-violent and protect the national unity,” Negi added.

Dehradun, November 19
Once again the Employees Unions and the Supervisors and Managers Welfare Association (SMWA) of the Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam took to streets to press for their demands of regularisation of 774 employees, cancellation of 10 high-level appointments made in July and promotions done without following the procedure of the Departmental Promotion Committee.

President of the association ND Kothari said they were no longer ready to put up with insincere assurances given in the past on the issue of the regularisation of 774 employees. BD Petwal said Principle Secretary, Tourism, Rakesh Sharma ditched them by appointing 10 people to high-level posts despite assuring them 10 days before of giving promotion to deserving candidates among them who were equipped with high qualifications and long working experience.

Surender Bahukhandi, Secretary, said if management did not resolve their issues, then they would boycott working for SAF Winter Games which he threatened would bomb without their assistance.

SP Pant, president, Employees Union, gave an ultimatum of 15 days to the management to come up with a concrete solution of their long pending demands.

The heads of employees union of other corporations Santosh Rawat of the Forest Development Corporation, Ravi Pachauri of the Transport Corporation and the union head from the Drinking Water Corporation too extended their support to the agitation.

Dehradun, November 19
Soon Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) would be set up at key places in Uttarakhand that will aid the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to ascertain effects of global warming on ancient monuments.

The Gopinath temple at Gopeshwar. A file photo

Mussoorie, November 19
A Garhwali music album, titled “Man Bharmaigay”, with the only Garhwali number sung by Nightingale of India, Lata Mangeshkar, was released here today.

The chief guest on the occasion MLA of Rajpur, Ganesh Joshi, released it at a simple function at a hotel. Ganesh Joshi, commending the efforts of the producers and director, said it was indeed a rare honour for the Garhwali music Industry to listen to a Garhwali song in Lata’s voice.

He said Lata’s song would go a long way in providing the right impetus to the music industry of the state.

The director, Anuj Joshi, said Lata had sung the title song in around 80’s and they had to dig it out from the archives and re-mixed it keeping the essence of the song intact.

Narendar Singh Negi, Kishan Mahipal, Jitendar Panwar and Meena Rana have their voices in the album.

Ravinder Lakhera has produced the album. Anil Godiyal, Pradeep Bhandari, Trilok Chauhan, Kushal Singh Rana, Jitendar Panwar and others were present on the occasion.

Dehradun, November 19
After a seven-day visit of Uttar Pradesh, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat reached Uttarakhand this morning. RSS workers accorded a warm welcome to the RSS chief at the Dehradun railway station from where he headed straightway to Vishwa Sanvad Kendra at Suman Puri, Dharampur. Bhagwat here held a closed-door meeting with key senior sangh leaders of the state.

An RSS office-bearer in Uttarakhand, Shiv Prakash, said Bhagwat’s visit to Uttarakhand was an internal visit of the RSS Chief. “Mohan Bhagwat ji is on a ‘Uttarakhand pravas’ which is part of RSS chief’s annual visit to different parts of the country,” he pointed out. Meanwhile, security arrangements were beefed up at Vishwa Sanwad Kendra from early morning hours. However, Bhagwat maintained a distance from the media on the first day of the visit. He will also be visiting other parts of the state.