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Petrol price hike adds to common man’s worries
UKD burns effigy of Union Govt
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Lokesh hits ton in PBL 6-wicket win
6 heart patients given warm send-off for surgery
Comedian Paintal dons mantle of teacher
Doon Civic Blues
- Ward No. 10
Nainital
diary
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Petrol price hike adds to common man’s worries
Dehradun, May 15
Last night, all the petrol filling stations in Dehradun were seen jam-packed with vehicles. “As soon the news of hike in petrol prices started flashing on television yesterday, my friend and myself rushed to the nearest petrol station for refilling our motorbikes. We thought to reach there early but on reaching there we found long queues of vehicles at the station,” said Rohan Rawat. “My office is about 12 km from my house. I usually work in the field and commute on a motorbike. Now, the hike in petrol prices has added to worries as to how am I going to balance my monthly budget,” says Mahesh Bisht, a marketing executive. Though, there have been nine hikes in the petrol prices since last June, the latest hike is the steepest one in many years, opines of IB Pradhan from Yak Petrol Pump on the Rajpur Road. “Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum, all have hiked petrol rates by Rs 5 per litre in Dehradun and other parts of India with effect from last midnight,” he added.
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UKD burns effigy of Union Govt
Dehradun, May 15 Surender Sajvan, district secretary, CPM, said: “The Central Government has ditched people of the country by raising the petrol prices just after the Assembly elections in four states concluded.” He said the corruption and inflation had made life miserable for the public. Indu Naudiyal, Lekhraj, Purushottam Puri, Anant Akash and Sardul Panwar and others participated in the protest. District president of the UKD NK Gusai held the Central Government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh responsible for continuous hike in petrol prices. He said: “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had assured the public of relief after March, 2009, but that did not happen, as in October-November and then again in March, 2011, the petrol prices were increased. Since he made the promise, the prices of petrol have been hiked nine times till date. It goes to show that he is least bothered about the poor public of the country, and only concerned to please the big oil companies so as to get financial help from them during election times.”
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Lokesh hits ton in PBL 6-wicket win
Dehradun, May 15 In the 40-over match, Dena bank won the toss and opted to bat first. The team scored 233 runs losing nine wickets. Opening batsman Awijeet scored 38 runs hitting six boundaries. Michal Vishal (48) and Arjit Gupta (42) remained unlucky, as they missed their respective half centuries. However, their knocks helped the team set up a good total. The batsmen who came later on couldn’t capitalise on it and the team lost wickets in quick succession. Subodh Badola of PBL caused the most damage to the innings of the rival team picking four wickets. Madhusudan Acharya also got two wickets. The PBL team, achieved the target in 31.2 overs scoring 234 runs. This was made possible with the brilliant century of opener Lokesh Sharma who was the mainstay of the batting side. All-rounder Madhusudan Acharya (56) ably helped Sharma. For Dena Bank, Shawej Khan took three wickets. Arjit Gupta also got one wicket. Meanwhile, UPCA, Kanpur will face PBL, Noida, in tomorrow’s inaugural match. Earlier in the morning, Speaker of Vidhan Sabha Harbans Kapoor, who was the chief guest, inaugurated the tournament.
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6 heart patients given warm send-off for surgery
Mussoorie, May 15 The six heart patients Sumit (18 years) from Hussain Ganj, Geeta (37 years) from Kyarkuli and Laxmi (six years), Yashoda (33 years), Savitri and Pradeep (nine years) all from Thatyur block, suffering from congenital heart surgery were also given tips and guidelines on the whole process that will be followed during their treatment. They were also provided with refreshment and clothing essential during the surgery by the members of the trust. Victor Bannerjee, the chief guest on the occasion, also gifted bouquet of flowers and voiced his moral support to the patients on the occasion. The patients will be operated for a congenital heart disease at the National Heart Research Institute, New Delhi, in the coming days. Dr Sunil Sanon, a heart specialist who has been working in the villages around Mussoorie tirelessly, said the patients had been briefed thoroughly and the trust was providing them necessary support at this critical juncture. He also said that all patients selected here required open heart surgery on an urgent basis. He also thanked the National Heart Institute Delhi for their kind cooperation and accepting the patients from Mussoorie and around. The patients thanked the Divine Light Trust and especially Dr Sunil and Vinoo Sanon for their efforts in making the heart operations possible. Savitri, a patient in need of a valve change in the heart said, “It could not have been possible with the help of Dr Sunil Sanon.” Eminent actor Victor Bannerjee before flagging of the patients said that Divine Light Trust had emerged as the saviour of the poor patients who could not afford expensive heart surgery. He said the trust was delivering in accordance with its mission and goal to serve the needy selflessly. Dr Vinoo Sanon, outlining the achievement of the trust so far, said that the Divine Light Trust was working in the remote villages to provide free medical consultation, pathology lab and tertiary health care. The trust had been able to assist more than 30 patients in providing them modern treatment for the past several years. Dr Sunil Sanon said the cost of the treatment was being born by the Divine Light Trust right from the diagnostic stage. He thanked the trust secretary, Pramod Sawhney, and the other members of the trust.
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Comedian Paintal dons mantle of teacher
Dehradun, May 15 Paintal, who has been in the film industry for a long time, started his acting career at the age of 19 with “Umang” as the second lead under Gurudutt Films in 1969. Other than acting in movies as well as television shows, he also loves to teach the art of acting to aspiring actors. Paintal, who hails from Delhi, joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, at the age of 17. Once the student of the institute Paintal later became the HOD of the acting department. Asked about the difference between the two institutes, he said the FTII is a government institute while IFTI is a private body and the functioning of both is different. “IFTI is the only institute in northern India that is directly associated with the Mumbai film industry,” Paintal claimed. Known for his notable roles of Rattan in “Jawani Diwani” (1972), Salma in “Rafoochakkar” (old), Guruji in “Bawarchi” (1972), Arun in “Piya Ka Ghar” (1972), Panditji in “Parichay” (1972), Totaram in “Jangal Mein Mangal” (1972), Kamal in “Heera Panna” (1973), headmaster in “Roti” (1974), Budh Anand in “Satte Pe Satta” (1982) and Champak Boomia in “Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar” (1973), Paintal is happy the way his career has been shaped. He has played an important role as Shikhandi in BR Chopra’s TV series “Mahabharat” and other roles in “Ladoo Singh Taxiwala”, “Pyar Zindagi Hai”, “Amber Dhara” and many more. “I am very happy where I stand today. I got to share the screen with the biggies like Raj Kapoor, Balraj Sahani, Dilip Kumar, Sanjeev Kumar, etc,” says an excited comedian who had won the Filmfare Award twice for Best Performance in Comic Role, one for “Bawarchi” and another for “Chala Murari Hero Banane” (1977). On his visit to Dehradun, he said: “I have been here many a times as my sister-in-law used to stay here. I have also been to Mussoorie for shooting,” Paintal reminisced. Regarding the trend of reality shows, he said: “These shows provide a platform to the youngsters who have talent. The industry has got many talented artists through On being asked would he ever like to judge the realty show, Paintal said: “Though I am very busy with my acting and teaching schedule, if get a nice opportunity I would definitely take it.” “I never mixed my profession with my family responsibilities, so I am a happy man,” Paintal stated. When asked about the movies that are not doing well, he said: “In earlier times only 10 films were made out of which seven or eight were declared hit, but now more than 500 films are made. Moreover, watching films is getting costlier thus the audience is not able to watch all of these.” Paintal, who was last seen in “Kalo”, a horror movie that was released in December last, would soon begin shooting for two untitled films in London. He wished to work with Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Hrithik Roshan in future.
Never intended to be actor, says Hitendra Paintal
Hitendra Paintal, son of actor Kanwarjit Paintal, who entered the Bollywood with “Tere Liye” in a comic role and later worked in “Dil Maange More” and “Bachna Ae Haseeno”, said he never intended to be an actor as he always preferred to be behind the camera but the destiny had in store something else for him. “I have attained a degree in computer graphics and animation and was working behind the camera. When I got the opportunity to work in the movies, I thought to give it a try. Graphics and animation has taken a back seat as of now for me,” he lamented He has also worked in the TV serials “Yeh Hai Mere Apne”, “Ada”, “Kasauti Zindagi Kay”, “CID” and many more.
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Dehradun, May 15 Talking to TNS, BJP councillor Jeevan Singh said: “I regularly visits my area. Cleanliness is our top priority and I do ensure that safai karamcharis complete their work on a regular basis.” “I have spent nearly Rs 13 lakh on various works in the area. Besides constructing roads in the ward, work on installing streetlights and the levelling and construction of pavements is in full swing,” he said, adding that, “We have reconstructed a primary pathshala and City Board School at Old Dalanwala. The school was in a dilapidated condition and Rs 6 lakh has been spent on it.” “A cremation ground is also being constructed in the ward at a cost of Rs 9.5 lakh. The work will be over within the next two months,” he said. However, the councillor himself feels that residents are facing problems due to the absence of the drainage line. He said they had approached the authorities concerned for the same. He also claimed that whenever there was a scarcity of water in this area, he always ensured that water was supplied to residents with the help of water tankers. Saheeda, a resident of Nalapani Road, said the councillor visited their area regularly. “In case of any problem, we complain to the councillor and it is solved within no time,”she said.
Mohammad Yameen, a carpenter, said the absence of sewerage and narrow roads were a major concern for him. “Our councillor is a nice person. Though he had got a road constructed six months ago, it has started developing potholes,” he said. Rajinder Singh Pampi, a resident of Old Dalanwala, said the area councillor solved all their problems. “During water scarcity, the councillor himself sends the water tank,” he added. However, a few people are not satisfied with his work.PK Khatri, a social activist, says due to the absence sewerage, we face many difficulties. “Whenever we complain to the councillor or the Municipal Corporation, we always get the reply that due to some technical problem they are not able to construct the same,” he said. “Politicians do visit the area for votes, promise many facilities, but later disappear. In our area, we have maintained streetlights and pay the bill from our pocket,” he claimed.
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Nainital
diary In Uttarakhand, the government functionaries and particularly the ministers seem to believe that rules are made only for the lesser mortals that are referred to as the common public. They seem to be under the impression that they continue to be some sorts of feudal lords and things would move according to their whims and fancies. An example in this regard was witnessed in Nainital last week and the one throwing his weight around was none other than cabinet minister Balwant Singh Bahuryal. The workers at the state guest house, which is popularly known as the Nainital Club, got a call from Bhauryal’s entourage at about 10 pm that the minister is on his way to Nainital and would have his food at the Club. Now, it is a well-known fact that the club kitchen shuts down for every guest at 10 pm as the staff have to return early in the morning for providing tea and breakfast to the guests. But, the minister being not from the category of lesser mortals was served the food close to midnight after the kitchen was kept open well after its official closing time. The message that went down was simply not what the minister would have liked to hear. Those who know of the incident could be heard talking, “Is he short of money that he could not spend even Rs 50 on the way to have his meals. These ministers seem to have a whole lot of sycophants accompanying them. Could they have not arranged for a meal for him or was it just that he wanted to prove a point that he is a minister of Uttarakhand and can make things work the way he wants to?”
Citurgia ghost to haunt CM again
The ghost of Citurgia land use change scandal is likely to come back again and again to haunt the Chief Minister, Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, and his government at least till the forthcoming Assembly elections. Although, the government got its friendly media houses to try to disseminate the message that Nishank had come out clean in the matter in which the High Court had given a judgment in December, the people still have a series of questions that they want answered. The first one of course is that who was indicted if not the Chief Minister who is morally responsible for the conduct of the officialdom. The second one is about the government engaging former law minister and eminent lawyer Shanti Bhushan and Kesri Nath Tripathi to defend it. It is being questioned why the government did not field its Advocate-General to defend it as he is being paid a hefty sum as salary. The people are now questioning the source of payments made to Bhushan and Tripathi. They are also wanting to know who paid for the stay and other expenses of these two lawyers and whether the payment was made from the tax payers’ money. There are all sorts of rumours doing the rounds regarding this sum of money and its payments. Those skeptical of Anna Hazare-led campaign against corruption can be heard pointing that how can Shanti Bhushan be a part of Hazare’s committee when he had stood here in the defense of the Nishank Government that was facing grave charges in the Citurgia case. These issues are being talked about at length these days and even the Congress leaders are being held squarely responsible for not taking up Citurgia and its related issues in the public domain as a responsible opposition. Senior party leader Anees Ahmed had to acknowledge before a group of journalists recently that the Congress had failed miserably to take up this issue.
Togadia’s speech not well taken
Firebrand leader of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Pravin Togadia left an unsavory taste among the people of Nainital during his brief visit to the town. His visit was marked by his trademark anti-minority diatribe that did not go down well with the people from both the minorities as well as the majority communities in the town. His programme proved to be an utter flop show with less than 100 people listening to him at the venue. The paucity of listeners had been aggravated by unexpected shower. Yet passers-by could hear him over the microphones. Most of the people after listening to the speech could be heard talking that such communal elements should not be invited to deliver communally surcharged speeches in a town that is known far and wide for its communal amity. Nainital happens to be among the rare destinations where a temple, a gurdwara, a mosque and a church are located within a diameter of 100 meters and people shown extreme tolerance and brotherhood whenever one community is observing its festivals or important religious days. An old lady woman was heard saying, “He comes for the first time and what he talks is hatred. It’s not a war zone.” Those who are politically aware could be heard saying, “Having been decimated by Narendra Modi in Gujarat, he is now looking for a fertile ground in other states.”
The man who continues to spring surprises in state politics is the former Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari. More than the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it is the Congress that is finding it very difficult to handle him. Political observers had a lot many things to observe about this grand old man of Uttarakhand politics during his brief visit to Haldwani some days ago. Despite knowing that their mentor was in town and was staying at the guest house of the Medical College, no Congress leader had turned up to meet him till noon. However, it was Tiwari’s previous confidante and senior Congress leader Indira Hridayesh who turned up to greet him. This visit triggered off a competition amongst the Congress leaders from the region for coming to meet Tiwari. They came one by one and gave all sorts of excuses for having not turned up earlier. Tiwari could be seen beaming and nodding to everyone one. When media persons tried to corner senior Congress leader Anees Ahmed on the issue of Tiwari having sat on the dais during the launch of the Atal Khadyann Yojana by Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and BJP pesident Nitin Gadkari singing his praises, Ahmed tried to wriggle out by saying, “If Gadkari praised him, this goes on to show that the Congress government under Tiwari had performed so well that even the BJP has to acknowledge it amidst public.” When asked whether the Congress would be making use of Tiwari during the campaign for the forthcoming polls, he said anyone wanting to help the Congress was welcome.
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Workers of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) (Panwar faction) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) protested against the hike in the rates of petrol by raising anti-Congress slogans and burning effigies.
Dedication and hard work is the key to success. This is what veteran actor Kanwarjit
Paintal, popularly known as Paintal, told the youngsters who came for the auditions organised by the
Meerut-based Indian Film and Television Institute (IFTI) here today.Paintal is the Head of Department
(HOD, Acting) in the institute. He was in the city along with his son Hitender Paintal and Gurdip
Punj.
Despite narrow roads and the absence of sewerage in Rispana, Ward No 10, residents are happy with their councillor’s work. The ward includes River
Rispana, Balmiki Basti, Khatik Mohalla, Old Dalanwala, Gurdwara Road, Tarpuri
Mohalla, Nala Pani Road and Chug Colony.
