Congress expels 24 rebels for six years
Dehradun, January 18
Unable to persuade the party rebels who are fighting the Assembly elections against official party candidates, the state Congress today expelled more than 24 party rebels for six years.

Some relief to Chakrata traders
Dehradun January 18
At a meeting held with traders of Chakrata Road today, vice-chairman, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), BVRC Purushottam, permitted the former to leave only one metre land rather than two metres from the remaining portions of their shops.

Haridwar January 18
After Congress national chief Sonia Gandhi’s successful election rally in Haridwar district just a day ago, BJP workers were eyeing their national party chief Nitin Gadkari’s rally to boost up their respective candidates’ campaign.

But much to the disappointment of the party workers and the local public, Gadkari didn’t arrive despite party leaders at the dais announcing for more than three hours that any time he may arrive.

Finally, as the party leaders finished their address, it was announced that due to some unknown reasons Gadkari’s visit had got cancelled,which created resentment among the local crowd and disappointment among party activists.

A section of the crowd even resorted to sloganeering against a businessman-turned politician and against local leaders for not clearly announcing the status of his arrival and making them wait for hours in chilling overcast conditions.

In comparison to the Congress supremo’s turnout, the BJP’s chief public rally attendance was quite thin, which has given a setback to the BJP’s electoral campaigning in the district.

District BJP chief Sushil Chauhan blamed the weather but forgot that in Roorkee, too, similar foggy conditions were prevalent yesterday when Sonia spoke.

He added: “If Gadkari had arrived, then surely more crowd would have thronged the venue as people were seen quite eager to listen to his views.” Taking a dig on Gadkari’s non-arrival and poor turnout, city Congress chief OP Chauhan commented that in view of Sonia Gandhi’s historic Roorkee rally, the BJP’s businessman-turned saffron party chief didn’t have the guts to address a rally the very next day in Haridwar, as comparisons would then been inevitable. He related the public presence as a sign of fading of voters’ interest in BJP and a sign of pro-Congress wave in Uttarakhand. Aadesh Chauhan, party rural segment candidate, seemed a bit upset but said that the other veteran party leaders like Dharmendra Pradhan,Mohan Singh Rawat Gaonwasi made it and hoped that soon Gadkari will make up for his absence at today’s rally.

Dehradun, January 18
Unable to persuade the party rebels who are fighting the Assembly elections against official party candidates, the state Congress today expelled more than 24 party rebels for six years.

A total of 34 party rebels are in the fray against official party candidates.

Prominent among those who have been expelled from the party include Virender Bisht, a general secretary, and Bharat Chaudhary, a member of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC).

Both Bisht and Chaudhary are in the fray from the Rudraprayag Assembly segment against the leader of the Opposition, Harak Singh Rawat.

Mantri Prasad Naithani, a former Congress minister who is in the fray from Devprayag, has also been expelled.

Jot Singh Bisht, convener of the Congress manifesto committee who is the fray as an Independent candidate against the official party candidate from Dhanaulti also faced action.

Gulzar and Luxmi Aggarwal from the Sahaspur Assembly segment, Rajni Rawat from Raipur, Ambrish Kumar, a former legislator from Ranipur , Mahesh Sharma, a general secretary from Kaladhungi, and Rekha Arya from Someshwar have also been expelled from the party.

The party has been trying to talk to a few other rebels. They will also be facing action in case they did not relent, according to party sources.

Dehradun January 18
At a meeting held with traders of Chakrata Road today, vice-chairman, Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA), BVRC Purushottam, permitted the former to leave only one metre land rather than two metres from the remaining portions of their shops.

The Nazul shopkeepers agreed to VC’s directive but not the freehold shopkeepers.

The VC had convened another meeting on Thursday to resolve the matter.

Shaskhikant, president of Chakrata Shopkeepers Association, said: “The entire traders’ lobby was present and agreed when the VC relaxed the space limit from two to one metre. But after the meeting was over, freehold shopkeepers started opposing relenting even one metre land. When the VC was apprised of the

situation, he called for another round of meeting tomorrow.”

The VC also permitted the shopkeepers to build staircases on the one-metre land. President, Freehold Shopkeepers Association, Virender Rawat, said the Nazul shopkeepers had big shops and were left with 20-25 metre shops; so they could afford forsaking two metre or one metre space from their shops but not the freeholders, as most of them had only 5 to 7 metres space left.

MDDA officials have become lackadaisical about addressing the grievances of the traders ever since the political environment in the city has warmed up over Assembly electionS. It seems they just want to pass the time till the elections get over and the new government saddles into the chair.

But the shopkeepers are restless, as neither their new shops are ready in the shopping complex, nor are they allowed to build the remaining part of their shops on Chakrata Road.

Their business is getting severely affected.

The livelihood of those who work under them has also been hit. It was after the ruckus over MDDA’s intervention on Saturday when shopkeeper Manjit Singh Sabbarwal was

seen arguing with MDDA employees. The officials had asked the shopkeepers to meet them on Monday, but when shopkeepers went there, none of the officials was present.

The incensed shopkeepers vent their anger on Chakrata Road and protested for more than an hour. It was then that the VC called them at MDDA this afternoon.

Haridwar, January 18
A group of students from local SMJN College has launched an initiative to generate awareness among fellow students about elections and choosing the ‘right’ candidate.

The students’ drive is nonpolitical and aimed at making the youth realise the value of voting in elections. Initiated by Prerna Kainthola, students’ union president, the students are apprising their college mates and also poor and illiterate voters about the need to choose the right candidate.

Though their primary objective is to ensure that all go to cast vote, as still a majority of people, particularly youth, refrain from voting. “When I read in a newspaper that 50 per cent polling is considered good in India, I wondered why were the rest of voters not casting vote. A majority of them are the youth and hence after talking with my college mates we decided to start an election awareness drive in our college,” Prerna told The Tribune.

Initially, the college management was wary of the drive getting a political colour or violating the election code of conduct. But when the students assured it that they would not campaign for any party and only wanted to spread awareness about the need to exercise the right to franchise that the college decided to support them.

A seminar was held at the college today where students expressed their views about elections, need to cast vote, importance of every vote, choosing the right candidate and to remain unaffected by allurements during elections.

Interestingly, girl students are actively taking part in the drive. Neelam, a BA-I student, said, “I was apprehensive and unaware about the election process. I even used to think why is it essential to cast vote and what we students get out of the elections. But now after my college mates are holding workshops, I too have joined them in generating awareness about elections and voting.”

Dr AK Ghildiyal, principal of SMJN College, appreciated the students’ initiative and termed it as a good sign for democracy. “If these students can think of such a drive, surely India’s future is going to be secure. Voting is essential.

If the students themselves understand the importance of voting, the polling percentage will go up,” said Dr SK Batra, head of the Commerce Department, who is helping the students in 
the initiative.

Dehradun, January 18
Bhiwani Bulls won by two wickets its match against JSM, Meerut, in the 4th Uttarakhand Shaheed Girish Bhadri Cricket Tournament here today. The Meerut team scored 140 runs losing all its wickets. Rahat Elahi scored 31 runs followed by Sumit Kundu who contributed valuable 28 runs to the team’s score.

The Bhiwani Bulls managed the score losing eight wickets in process. Naresh Tanwar of Bhiwani Bulls scored the highest runs (51). In tomorrow’s match, ICL, Chandigarh, will taken on Uttarakhand XI. — TNS

Dehradun, January 18
Himalayan Cricket Academy and Tanush Cricket Academy won their respective matches in the Uttarakhand Premier Cricket Tournament under way at Kasiga School here today.

In the first match, Himalayan Cricket Academy defeated Indian XI, Haryana, by 87 runs. The Himalayan team scored 172 runs for three wickets in 15 overs.

In reply, Indian XI, Haryana, scored 85 runs all out.

In the second match, Tanush Cricket Academy defeated IME, Dehradun, by 82 runs. The Tanush Academy team scored 169 runs for four wickets in 15 overs.

The IME, Dehradun, team was all out for 87 runs losing the match by 82 runs.

Opener Ravi Thakur was the top scorer with 18 runs. Dhanraj and Tanush took two wickets each.