CM on stone-laying spree
Tribune News Service

Nainital, October 18
Having spent a little more than a month in the office after coming back as the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Major-Gen Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri (retd), has now launched a public contact programme that is coupled with an announcement making and foundation stone-laying drive. Gen Khanduri was in Champawat on Tuesday where he made announcements, laid foundation stones and dedicated projects worth Rs 17.46 crore to the public besides addressing a public gathering and holding an official meeting.

At a meeting held on the premises of the Van Panchayat where he asked the officials, particularly those from the Public Works Department (PWD), Health, Power, Social Welfare, Education and Water Departments to work with complete transparency. He told the officials to utilise the funds allocated under the District Plan by December and do away with the practice of making use of these funds from February onwards. At the same time he has ordered that all the pension schemes should be put online by November.

He expressed his concern over the delay in the repairs of the Lohaghat-Devidhura-Valik road that are being done under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He has called for a report on the delay from the District Magistrate within a week.

After his interaction with the officials, he dedicated and laid the foundation stones of schemes worth almost Rs 17.46 crore amidst chanting of Vedic mantras. He also disbursed cheques to the beneficiaries of various schemes.

He then addressed a public gathering at the Goral Chaur grounds where he recounted the achievements of the BJP government in the state since it came to power in 2007. He promised to take up the issue of the demand of the people to make the Nagar Panchayat into a Nagar Palika.

General Khanduri promised that his government would see to it that there was no dearth of doctors in the state. He also recounted the schemes started by his government for the ex-servicemen in Uttarakhand which has produced a large number of armed forces personnel. Local legislator Beena Maharana and BJP state unit chief Bishen Singh Chufal were also present on the occasion.

People’s hopes dashed
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 18
The people of Didihat, Pithoragarh and Champawat, who had high hopes of getting their local demands of developmental works fulfilled during the visit of Uttarakhand Chief Minister BC Khanduri, were disappointed.

The Chief Minister failed to make any announcement on the demands put up by the people in these three towns of the Kumaon region. “The CM gave only assurance to form the district before the announcement of the election code of conduct,” said Chanchal Chauhan, a youth leader in Didihat.

Congress leaders of Didihat were also unhappey for being ignored during the visit of the Chief Minister to the town.

The much-awaited drinking water scheme from Rautis Gar to the town of Didihat had not even been referred to by the CM and the pumping scheme of which the foundation stone was laid actually had 
been approved due to efforts of Kanalichina MLA Mayukh Singh Mahar, said Chauhan.

The people of Pithoragarh were hopeful that he would announce the construction of two artificial lakes near the town, besides earmarking a fund regarding the trauma centre, diagnosis centre and base hospital in the town for which the town has been waiting for the past five years.

“We put all demands before the Chief Minister, he only gave clear assurance of releasing a sum of Rs 50 lakh for roads in the town,” said Rajendra Singh Rawat, chairman of the Nagar Palika Parishad, Pithoragarh.

“The people of Pithoragarh were hopeful of

start of commercial flights between Pithoragarh and Pant Nagar which would have promoted tourism in this remote district but nothing had happened,” said Pawan Joshi, chairman of the district unit of the Prantiya Udhog Vyapar Mandal.

The tour of the Chief Minister has also been termed hopeless by the people as the Chief Minister did not gave approval to any projects in the district.

The people had submitted a memorandum regarding 10 demands of the district including, land for PG college in Tanakpur, formation of Purnagiri trust, free holding of the land of Lohaghat town and upgrading the status of the Nagar Panchayat, Champawat, said Sankar Datt Pandey a social worker in the town.

But except announcing the construction of Deen Dayal park, which the CM had announced during his first stint, and assuring to upgrade the Nagar Panchayat , the Chief Minister did not make any announcement nor sanctioned money for those projects which he had announced during his first stint as Chief Minister of the state, said Pandey.

18 cops suspended for dereliction of duty
Tribune News Service

Nainital, October 18
A series of surprise checks by senior officials of the Police Department carried out over the past two days in the Rudrapur town of Udham Singh Nagar has led to the suspension of 18 police personnel for dereliction of duty.

It is learnt that several police personnel who had been deployed in those parts of the town that had witnessed unprecedented communal violence earlier this month were found to be missing from duty during the surprise checks.

According to sources, in the Bhadaipura and Paharganj areas that had witnessed large-scale violence and where night curfew is still being imposed, some police personnel were even seen snoring with rifles under their heads during duty hours.

They were supposed to be patrolling these areas to ensure that there is no problem on the law and order front. According to the reports, the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police Abhinav Kumar who is supervising the law and order situation in the town after having been specially brought in by the Chief Minister, Major-Gen Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri (retd), has ordered their suspension.

Cong moves Election Commission

Dehradun, October 18
The Uttarakhand Congress has questioned the large-scale transfers in the bureaucracy effected by the state BJP government ahead of the Assembly elections.

In a complaint lodged with the Chief Election Commissioner, Union Election Commission, Delhi, Congress Uttarakhand in charge Chowdhary Birendra Singh alleged that the Uttarakhand BJP government had carried out the large-scale transfers of bureaucrats with the sole aim of impacting the outcome of the upcoming elections in the state.

“These transfers are, in fact, motivated solely by the objective of influencing the process and conduct of upcoming elections in Uttarakhand,” Birendra Singh said.

Seeking the Election Commission’s intervention, Birendra Singh said the commission must seek an explanation from the Uttarakhand government about these transfers. “The Union Election Commission must prevent the Uttarakhand government from abusing the state administrative machinery,” be observed. — TNS

Vendors oppose hike in ‘tehbazaari’ rates

Haridwar, October 18
Thousands of vendors and small-scale traders went on strike today, opposing the recent hike in the rates of “tehbazaari” (charges taken from vendors) by the Municipal Corporation. They have termed the hike as a blow to the daily earnings of thousands of such traders.

Opposing the hike in daily charges that the corporation takes from vendors and bringing those who sell goods on bicycles and on roadsides under the “tehbazaari” purview, the vendors took out a massive procession from Jwalapur to the office of the corporation.

Addressing the protesting traders, Leader of the Opposition Harak Singh Rawat accused Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik of keeping mum on this issue despite being a local legislator. Dr Rawat said in BJP governance the poor have become poorer while the interests of big traders, who having an affinity with the BJP, are being sheltered. He assured them that he would be taking up the matter with Chief Minister Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri and if by November 2 their demand was not met then he would agitate in front of the Chief Minister’s house.

State chief of the Small-Scale Traders Association Sanjay Chopra said they had been on agitation for the 40 day over the allocation of “tehbazaari” on contract. Former councillors Ashok Sharma and Sarfaraz Gaud also condemned the hike saying that those people who earned just Rs 50 or Rs 80 per day were being targeted while big traders who had encroached on government land are let scot free by the corporation. During the protest no tea vendor, tobacco seller, fruit or vegetable hawker was seen trading on the roads in the city. — TNS

Woman’s murder case solved

Nainital, October 18
The Bageshwar police has claimed to have solved the murder case of a woman who was found dead in the Kafligaur area of the district on September 28. According to information, Mohan Singh, father-in-law of the victim, Bhagwati Devi, had allegedly murdered her. Sources said 29-year-old Bhagwati allegedly had illicit relations with the accused a few years ago. Later, she started living separately with her husband in Delhi.

Lately, she had started interacting with some other villagers that infuriated the accused and he allegedly killed her while she was on her way back after attending a function at her sister-in-law’s house in Basoli village.

To misled the police, the accused made it appear a case of loot as the jewellery the woman was wearing before the incident was missing. The victim was a resident of Kathani village. — TNS

UPP relay fast enters second day
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 18
The relay fast of the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party (UPP) that has been launched to press for the demand of regular service and basic amenities to the labour community in the state continued at the Parade Ground for the second day today.

Dr Jitender Bharti of the People’s Forum, Dr Nagender Jaguri, member of the working committee, Abdul Wahid and Trade Union leader Harish Chander Joshi ended their fast by taking juice today. They were replaced by district president Premanand Bijalwan, district general secretary CP Sharma and littérateur KC Saklani.

Party president PC Tiwari said: “As long as society and the government continue to give importance to corrupt people, the labourers will continue to be neglected and ill-treated.”

Party serious on black money issue: Congress
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 18
Blaming yoga guru Ramdev and Anna Hazare for acting on the directions of the BJP and the RSS, the Uttarakhand Congress has warned the minorities of the state to be aware of this hidden nexus. At the same time he said the Congress was quite serious about the black money and Jan Lokpal Bill issues. Uttarakhand Congress general secretary Rao Affaq Ali pointed out that people had huge expectations from the yoga guru and Gandhian Anna Hazare but both seemed to have fallen prey to the BJP-RSS trap.

He also cornered the BJP state government on the issue of delay in the construction of a Haj house and a Waqf Board office as also on the announcement by former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank that a separate Muslim educational institution will be set up in Roorkee.

With there being more than 36 party aspirants for the newly created Ranipur Assembly segment in Haridwar, Affaq said that everyone is free to express his wish as a member of the Congress but ultimately it boils down to one’s work on the ground and decision of the party high command. He himself is one of the aspirants.

Affaq said a “Qaumi Ekta” programme was being organised at Jwalapur tomorrow in view of the upcoming Divali festival by Muslim community of Jwalapur, where Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Agriculture Harish Rawat will be the chief guest. 

Roundworm-infested boar meat
Death toll rises to 11
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 18
A person who had taken ill after consuming the meat of a wild boar and was under treatment at Doon Hospital died last night, taking the toll to 11 in the state.

Darban Singh (68), a resident of Pauri village, had been admitted to the hospital a few days ago. Doctors said the patient suddenly developed complications late last night and was on anti-worm medicines.

Another patient is still undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Though doctors of the hospital are claiming that the 11 deaths are due to Trichinellosis (whip-worm infestation), they have also sent the muscle biopsy of the patients to Ranbaxy Hospital in Mumbai.

“To get a confirmed report, the muscle biopsy has been sent for the examination,” said Dr Harish Basera, MD (medicine), Doon Hospital.

He said this was the first case of Trichinellosis in the state. “I have also discussed the case with doctors of Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, and they have also confirmed that such incidents have been reported at the hospital. The cyst from the whip worm present in the wild boar travels to human beings through blood stream.

It takes one week to 10 days for it to reach the muscles and almost a month to complete its life cycle. It is then the delayed symptoms get manifested with human beings taking ill,” said Basera.

Some of the villagers hailing from Pinani, Garhigaon and Siwal villages of Pauri, who had taken ill after consuming the meat are also undergoing treatment at District Hospital in Pauri.

While doctors are awaiting the reports of the confirmatory tests, there are conflicting reports that instead of wounding the animal with the help of gunshots, villagers may have used poison mixed in the food to bait the animal, which may have led to the contamination of the meat.

“We will be able to get a clear picture once we receive the results of the confirmatory tests,” Dr KC Pant, a senior physician, Doon Hospital. 

Centre pursuing partisan policies: Meerut MP
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 18
Rajinder Agarwal, Lok Sabha member from Meerut and BJP representative of Uttarakhand in the LS, has charged the UPA government with pursuing partisan policies.

“The UPA government not only withdrew the industrial package but also adopted a tight-fist approach while sanctioning relief for the state that faced rain fury last year. It was the NDA government led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that had sanctioned the special industrial package though the state had a Congress government then. But when the UPA government came to power, instead of offering financial assistance to the state it withdrew the special industrial package in 2010,” he said while addressing a press conference at the BJP party office.

He stressed the withdrawal of the industrial package had dealt a huge blow to the industries in the state. Some of the industrial units have left the state, he added.

The leader also urged the UPA government not to play politics while disbursing grants and even asked the Centre to increase its share while disbursing aid to the state.

“While disbursing aid to North Eastern states the UPA has consistently maintained its share at 90 per cent but with regards to Uttarakhand it has kept its share between 40-50 per cent,” said Agarwal. Agarwal also reiterated that while the Chief Minister BC Khanduri would be leading the BJP in the coming Assembly elections, the decision to appoint the Chief Minister would be taken by the BJP top brass after the elections were over, in case the BJP won the elections. 

UKD (P) slams Ramdev
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 18
Acting Dehradun district president of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Panwar) Imran Ahmad, at a meeting held at Selaqui today, slammed yoga guru Ramdev for not revealing the name of the minister who, according to him, had asked him for bribe. District president of the Labour Cell Vikas Chauhan stressed doing away with the contractual system in industries.

Ahmad said Ramdev’s campaign against corruption would have no impact on society unless he revealed the name of the minister who had allegedly tried to bribe him.

Chauhan advocated an end to the contractual system and 70 per cent employment to youngsters of the state along with the provision of minimum wages and dearness allowance in the factories of Selaqui. The meeting was attended by Ashish Sharma, Vishan Chauhan, Roshan Negi, Prashant Jakhmola, etc. 

Autumn festival begins in Pithoragarh
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, October 18
A six-day autumn festival and development exhibition began at DS Bisht Ground here yesterday. It was inaugurated by Chief Minister BC Khanduri. Rajendra Singh Rawat, chairman of the Nagar Palika Parishad, Pithoragarh, said the autumn festival was being celebrated since 1960 and was organised every year to attract tourists.

However, this time the festival was being held after a gap of two years due to a lack of resources.

During the festival, a variety of cultural programmes, sports activities and exhibitions are organised.

“This time we have invited cultural troupes from outside the district also. Students of local private schools have also been invited to participate,” he added.

He said cultural teams from Delhi had also been invited to enthral the audience. “However, our main emphasise is on promoting the talent of local artists,” he added. 

Statehood memorabilia

Dehradun, October 18
The state Assembly will soon house a gallery dedicated to the statehood movement. It will not only house portraits of the statehood freedom fighters but also literature and reading material.

The brainchild of Uttarakhand Assembly speaker Harbans Kapoor, the gallery will be open for the visitors. “It is a small effort to keep the younger generation acquainted with the state’s history, especially the statehood agitation,” said Kapoor, while chairing a meeting. — TNS