Haridwar, June 8
Extending full support to the ongoing ‘Satyagraha’ led by Ramdev, Vishwa Hindu Parishad International chief Ashok Singhal has asked the Union Government to accept Ramdev’s demands instantly as they cater to masses only. Singhal was today in Haridwar to extend the VHP’s support as well as to enquire about the health of the agitating yoga guru.

Both Ramdev and Singhal held a 40-odd minutes closed-door talk which they termed as dwelling on the modes to effectively carry on the agitation.

VHP international chief advocated for a strict anti-corruption law which would pave way for a better, transparent mode of governance as well as provide a system for the welfare of the people. He also pressed for the acceptance of yoga guru’s demand of bringing black money to India and declaring it as a national asset saying, “Black money will help in the nation’s prosperity only when we expose the faces of those who are using unfair means to stop this movement.”

"The need of the hour is to have a strict anti-corruption law as there are some corrupt, dishonest, avaricious people who are looting our people’s hard-earned money, stacking it in foreign banks. A stringent anti-corruption law will make sure that the offenders are meted out rigorous punishment,” said Singhal, who took blessings of the yoga guru.

Singhal left the venue prior to the high-profile visit of BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.

Dehradun, June 8
Prathmesh Kumar of Haridwar has filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court against the “illegal” felling of trees at the Rajaji National Park, Uttarakhand.

In the PIL, which was filed on June 2, the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary, the Principal Chief Conservator (Forests), the Principal Secretary (Forests), the Chief Wildlife Warden and the Rajaji Director have been named respondents.

The petitioner, Prathmesh Kumar, argued that it was against the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and also the orders of the Supreme Court linked to conservation.

He said it was a matter of concern that trees were being felled in the park, particularly at a time when human-wildlife conflicts had risen to alarming proportions. Nearly 20 gutail trees, it is learnt, were axed in the Motichur range of the Rajaji National Park in May.

However, explaining the circumstances under which the step was taken, SS Rasaily, Director (Rajaji National Park), said it was necessary to cut the trees, as they were immature. They had been axed to protect the grasslands from degradation. He said this was done in the interest of wildlife.

The petitioner has appealed the Supreme Court to direct the Uttarakhand Government and the state Chief Wildlife Warden to submit a report in this regard apart from fixing the responsibility of officials.

Dehradun, June 8
The Uttarakhand Rajya Nirman Sainani Manch held a one-day fast at Shahidi Samarak in the town today to extend support to Anna Hazare’s fast at Rajghat in New Delhi.

The convener of the organisation, Manoj Dhayani, said, they required to emulate Hazare’s example in the state who got 450 corrupt officials suspended in Maharashtra and brought in rapid economic transformation in his village, Rallegaon Sidhi. “Uttarakhand, too, had a history of agitation, where hundreds sacrificed their lives to form their own state.

They dreamt of an ideal and corruption- free state. Therefore, we need to exhibit the same zeal in eradicating corruption from Uttarakhand by holding another agitation at the same scale,” he said and reiterated Ramdev’s assertion to expose those tainted ministers and bureaucrats who had stashed their black money in foreign bank accounts.

Surender Singh Pangati, former IAS officer, said it was important to create social pressure by lending support in small groups to the agitations against corruption in order to put pressure on the Union Government to punish those who indulged in such practices.

Kamala Pant, convener of the Mahila Manch, supported Anna Hazare’s demand to include Prime Minister and higher judiciary within the ambit of the Jan Lok Pal Bill.

PC Thapliyal, vice-president of the Ex-Servicemen Association, said all ex-servicemen should come forward in support of Hazare who himself had been an ex-serviceman and had a clean track record. The others who were present included Vijay Luxmi Gusain, Parvati Dhani, Usha Bhatt, Kamala Kandhari, Sunil Juyal, Nanda Vallabh Pandey.

Meanwhile, Trivender Singh Panwar, president of a faction of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, went on fast with other members of his party at Gandhi Park on Wednesday to show solidarity with Anna Hazare, who is on fast in Delhi against the forcible removal of yoga guru Ramdev.

Panwar, however,said that their fast was only meant to lend support to Anna’s cause but not to Ramdev.

Panwar also announced his plan to move to Mori town with his party activists on Thursday to “free” land allegedly encroached upon by an IAS officer’s wife. “We will not let the state machinery sleep over the misdeeds of corrupt officials.The UKD has taken upon itself the task of ridding the state of corrupt bureaucrats. Henceforth, wherever we get to know of any such officers/ employees, we will blacken their faces and parade them in public. Our march to Mori is the first step in this direction,” he said.

He emphasised that the UKD had always been in the forefront in denouncing corruption. Earlier, too, the party had held a two-day fast at Gandhi Park.

The leaders who went on fast with him included acting president AP Juyal, district president NK Gusain, city president Bahadur Singh Rawat, Virender Bisht, Asha Sharma and OP Vashisht.

Dehradun, June 8
Members of the Uttarakhand Ministerial Collectorate Karamchari Sangh today met PC Sharma, Principal Secretary, Revenue, in connection with their demands.

Employees of the tehsil and SDM/DM offices in the state have been on strike since June 1 in support of their demand for the restructuring of the Collectorate. Owing to this work related to revenue, the sale of stamp papers and the issuing of various documents has been hit for eight consecutive days.

Rajinder Semwal, state president of the sangh, said a team from the revenue office told them that they should end the strike and the government would meet their demands soon. “We were told that a new committee would be formed in order to make a new report so that action could be taken accordingly.”

Semwal said the sangh “will carry on the protest till the time we get a satisfactory answer from the government.”

Nainital, June 8
Farmers who undertake basmati cultivation in the region can expect the best price for common basmati in December. This forecast has been made by scientists at the Gobind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology at Pantnagar.

Scientists at the university are making price forecasts well in advance of the sowing of selected agricultural commodities and during harvesting under the National Agricultural Innovation Project (NAIP) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi. The NAIP sub-project ‘Establishing and networking of agricultural market intelligence centres in India’ is being carried out in the region.

Since the sowing season of paddy is approaching, research scientists of Pantnagar conducted á market survey at the Rudrapur regulated market, a major market for fine paddy in Uttarakhand, and analysed the market price data that has prevailed for the past 16 years in this market to make price forecast for paddy in this season. The results of econometric analysis showed that the market prices of common basmati (sarbati, HR-147, RH-10, pant-13 etc) in the Rudrapur market will range between Rs 2,100 and 2,700 per quintal in October and Rs 2,000 and 2,600 per quintal in November.

The price is expected to be the highest in December ranging between Rs 2,200 and Rs 2,800 per quintal. The prices of traditional basmati varieties like Pusa Basmati, 1121, Punjab-1 etc is expected to be Rs 450 to Rs 500 per quintal, more than the common basmati.

The scientists have advised farmers, who wish to take basmati cultivation in the coming season, to decide varieties and acreage under basmati paddy crop considering the above price forecast as well as other conditions prevailing in their area.

According to a spokesperson for the university,” India ranks among top five exporters of rice and exports about 7 to 8 lakh metric tonnes mostly to Saudi Arabia, Europe and the USA.

He said as far as Uttarakhand was concerned, the area under paddy was 0.3 million hectares and production was 0.58 million tonnes during 2008-09. Major paddy-producing districts in Uttarakhand are Udham Singh Nagar, Dehradun and Haridwar.

Dehradun, June 8
The Uttarakhand Revenue Sangrah Ameen Sangh today did not accept a letter relating to their demands sent to them by the administration as it “did not meet the demands.”

A delegation of the sangh had met officials of the administration yesterday on the issue.The administration then sent this letter to the protesters after the meeting.

The sangh members today continued their indefinite strike. One of the members of the association, Suresh Semwal, said they had received the letter from the administration but it failed to meet their demands.

The sangh demands include the promotion of Ameens to the post of the Naib Tehsildar and an increase in their pay scale from January 1, 2006.

Dehradun, June 8
Cantt Blue got the better of Dehra XI 4-0 during the ongoing 60th Lala Nemi Dass Memorial District Football League at the Pavilion ground here today.

Gaurav (23rd minute), Rahul (34th), Manish Thapa (35th) and Suraj Thapa (43rd) scored a goal each for the winning team. For Dehra XI, Garuav (46th) and Piyush (76th) netted goals.

In the second match, Indira FC were defeated by Chandramani XI 2-0. Santosh (60th) and Ankit (69th) struck goals for Chandramani to show an easy win to their side.

In tomorrow’s matches, Doon United will meet Balaji and Eleven Star will face Garhwal Sporting. The two matches are considered to be tough affairs.