‘Cong should win 50 of the 70 seats in state’
Dehradun, January 25
BCCI vice president Rajeev Shukla today said that BCCI had always been in favour of conferring the Bharat Ratna on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar. Shukla, who was in Dehradun to campaign for the Congress in the ongoing Assembly polls in the state, said the BCCI was in favour of conferring the Bharat Ratna on cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, taking into account the services rendered by him to the nation. “I personally had written to the Union Government for conferring the award to Sachin,” he said.

Haridwar, January 25
Bharatiya Janata Party’s firebrand woman leader Smriti Irani today lashed out at the Congress-led Untied Progressive Alliance, terming it a party with double standards,whose leaders say one thing in public while adopt double standards when it comes to action.

Smriti Irani, the famed television actress and Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat, was here today in Roorkee to campaign for party’s sitting candidate Suresh Chandra Jain.To hear the star campaigner, a huge crowd gathered from nearby Assembly segments of Laksar, Khanpur and Jhabreda.

Quite impressed with the 15,000-plus crowd, Irani termed it as a sign of people’s wish, “which is in favour of the BJP, which is perturbed by corruption and scam-ridden seven-year tenure at the Centre.” Making a scathing attack on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Irani said that both the leaders were not at all perturbed by the rising inflation and deep-neck corruption, which had broken the backbone of the masses, but, instead, were more interested in trying to bring in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

Appreciating the Lokayukta Act brought by Uttarakhand Chief Minister B.C. Khanduri, Smriti, national chief of the women’s wing of the BJP Mahila Morcha, termed it as one of the best things that has happened in the country in recent times.

“He (Khanduri) has heralded a new era of political decision making by bringing the post of CM under the purview of Lokayukta. He is now inevitable for people of Uttarakhand as well as for eradicating corruption,” said Irani, who had lost from Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency against Congress candidate Kapil Sibbal in 2004.

Terming the past five year tenure of BJP as quite impressive as during this equal growth and development had been registered in the state, she said that bringing in the BJP again will further see manifold schemes as, in BC Khanduri, lies the finest capability to lead the government.

Irani, referring to 2-G spectrum scam, Commonwealth Games scam, Adarsh Society scam and 56 scams in Uttarakhand by Narayan Dutt Tiwari-led Congress state government, said that it seemed Congress had become synonymous with the corruption.

She added that it was only the BJP which was sincere in it’s fight against corruption as seen in Uttarakhand, and the party will continue the crusade if voted to power in the elections. Roorkee party candidate Suresh Chand Jain also addressed the gathering, seeking votes. He elaborated the work done during his five-year tenure in the Assembly segment.

Dehradun, January 25
Yog guru Ramdev appealed to the people not to vote for the Congress as the party was protecting those who had stashed away Rs 400 lakh crore in foreign banks. Ramdev, while addressing a press conference in the city today, however, admitted that there was no party which had not been involved in corruption cases.

He praised the BJP and the CPI for agreeing to his seven-point programme for the eradication of black money, corruption and changing the system. He again criticised the Congress saying, “Why is only one party desisting from signing on my seven-point agenda for removing black money and corruption. This clearly means the party is averse to it.”

Ramdev slammed the Congress for challenging him to fight elections to get replies to his questions. He said, “Do 121 crore citizens of India need to fight elections to get replies on their questions?” The yog guru charged a minister with demanding a bribe of Rs 2 crore from him but did not name him. “Forget about petty amounts. Now, talk about black money to the tune of Rs 400 lakh crore. I never took anybody’s name, but only gave information.”

Ramdev fumed at the way he and Team Anna were being attacked by some miscreants by throwing shoes and black ink on them. “There is no reason why a person like me or Anna Hazare, who talk of ridding the country of corruption and black money, are treated this way. There are some anti-national elements behind such incidents.”

He advised the people to use the better way of ballot to express anger and punish wrongdoers.

He said he had received unequivocal support from Anna in his mission against black money and he too reciprocated by supporting him (Anna) in his fight against corruption. Ramdev was upset over not being given permission to address gatherings in Uttarakhand.

“I am surprised that I was given permission to address people in Uttar Pardesh but denied in Uttarakhand. I don’t want to indict the Election Commission of India for this or the bureaucracy, which suspected my presence could endanger peace and security in the state. I know that some bureaucrats, who are playing into the hands of politicians, have done this.” He denied the charge that he was targeting a “particular” party and said the fact was that it was a “particular party” which was targeting him.

Asked whether a yogi should participate in politics, Ramdev said, “Even Lord Ram, Lord Krishna and sages like Mahrishi Valmiki and Swami Vivekanand had actively taken part in politics. It is pointless to expect a humble being like me not to do so.” Ramdev said he was soon leaving for Uttar Pradesh and Punjab to campaign against corruption and black money. 

Dehradun, January 25
Despite the Election Commission of India making it mandatory for all candidates to declare their PAN card details, 42 candidates have not declared their details, out of these six candidates are crorepatis.

Among them, Shahzad of the BSP has the highest assets of approximately Rs 6.52 crore followed by Kaleem, a BJP nominee from the Mangalore Assembly seat with assets worth around Rs 3.15 crore, Sarwaryar Khan, a Congress nominee from the Kiccha Assembly seat, with assets worth Rs 1 crore, Balwant Singh of the Congress, who is contesting from the BHEL Ranipur seat, has assets worth Rs 1 crore, Sarwat Kareem Ansari, a BSP nominee from Mangalore, has assets worth Rs 1 crore and Sheshraj Singh from the Haridwar rural Assembly seat has also assets worth Rs 1 crore.

According to the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the Uttarakhand Election Watch (UKEW), the Uttarakhand chapter of National Election Watch (NEW), voters in the coming elections in five states are likely to have more information about the candidates in the fray.

“The Election Commission (EC) has prescribed a new format for affidavits in which candidates submit information about criminal cases, assets, liabilities, educational qualifications and other details. Candidates will now have to provide details about their PAN cards, income tax returns, details of conviction by courts and details of profession or occupation,” said Ravi Chopra of the NEW.

Besides a total of 99 (36 per cent) candidates have declared that they had never filed the income tax returns. Among the parties, the BSP has the maximum number of candidates - 31 (44% of the 70 candidates analyzed) who have never filed ITR followed by the UKD (P) who has 24 such candidates (55 % of the 44 candidates analyzed).

Surender Singh Jena, BJP candidate from Salt (Kumaon), figures top of the charts so far as the declaration of annual income is concerned. He has declared an annual income of Rs 80 lakh (self, spouse and dependent), followed by Mohan Pal, who is a BSP candidate from Bhimtal.

He has declared an annual income of Rs 43 lakh (self, spouse and dependent). On the third slot is Ganesh Prasad, who is standing on the Congress ticket from the Srinagar Assembly seat. He has declared an annual income of Rs 35 lakh (self, spouse and dependent). 

Dehradun, January 25
The 63rd Republic Day Parade will be a showcase of India’s military might where marching contingents from 11 proud regiments, mounted troops from the 61st cavalry and mechanised columns of the Army will be marching down the Rajpath in full ceremonial grandeur.

The parade will be commanded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC), Delhi area, Lt-Gen V K Pillai.

Interestingly, the first Republic Day parade was commanded by a Bengal Sapper officer, Col (later Lt-Gen) Joginder Singh Dhillon in 1950. This year too, it a matter of great pride and honour for the Bengal Sappers as the Bengal Engineer Group is participating as a marching contingent after 11 years. The contingent comprising one officer, two JCOs and 144 OR has trained at the Bengal Engineer Group and Centre at Rookee and will be led by Capt Suchit Pandey.

These marching contingents will be followed by a fly-past of Advance Light Helicopters (ALH) from the Army Aviation Corps and thereafter by a tableau from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force (IAF).

While the Army will be displaying its T-72 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), Agni-4 missile, ALH, Smerch and Pinaka rocket launchers, NBC water-purification system, jammers and march past by ‘Canine Force’ of the Remount and Veterinary Corps (RVC), the Navy is showcasing a Delhi-class destroyer, IL-38 reconnaissance aircraft and a UAV positioned atop a globe; the IAF will be putting on display a tableau of the mighty C-130J Super Hercules aircraft of American origin for the first time in over four decades and Mi-17 choppers. For the first time, the IAF marching contingent would be commanded by a women officer, Flight Lieutenant Sneha Shekhawat. 

Haridwar, January 25
Under the aegis of the Election Commission, an awareness march was organised here today by schoolchildren.

Holding placards, banners and paintings, students urged the voters to make sure that they cast their valuable vote on January 30.

The march was flagged off by sub-state Deputy Election Officer Saujanya in the presence of District Election Officer D Senthyl Pendiyan.

Saujanya appreciated the initiative of the students.

Students of Shiv Dale, DAV Centenary, Anand Mayyi and GGIC, Jwalapur participated in the rally. Swami Sharad Puri, Dr Naresh Chaudhari, Geeta, Kavita were the coordinators.