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With poll panel watching, candidates go door to door
UPP for ban on liquor till polling
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Industrial package was given to boost growth: Ravi Shankar
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad at a press conference in Dehradun on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph VHP to oppose quota for Muslims
Elect Cong for development: Sahay
ITBP, SSB stage flag march in Pithoragarh
Candidates go for personal-contact campaign
Battle between those for, against hydroelectric projects
Ajit Singh woos farmers at Mangalore
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh addresses a rally at Mangalore in Haridwar district on Wednesday.
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Has Modi declined to campaign in state?
Nainital, January 25 Over the last few days, the BJP and the Congress have bombarded Uttarakhand with the star campaigners, which include the top-rung politicians of the two parties at the national level, like their presidents and other senior functionaries. The state has witnessed rallies and gatherings being addressed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Pranab Mukherjee, Nitin Gadkari, Lal Krishna Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi. Even Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has campaigned for her party candidates. The BJP has even fielded a host of filmstars-turned-politicians like Hema Malini and Shatrughan Sinha along with television actress Smriti Irani to garner support for the party candidates. The BJP workers are wondering why is it that the party has failed to get its poster boy of Hindutva and development Narendra Modi to come and address a few gatherings. Media reports appearing in Gujarat suggest that Modi has declined to come to states like Uttarkhand and Punjab, where there is a high “anti-incumbency” factor at work, lest he be associated with a loss of the party later if that happens. Reports also suggest that when asked by the central leadership to campaign in these states, he had asked for the constituencies where he would be going, which had irked the
leadership. It is a well-known fact that the BJP had created Uttarkhand keeping in mind its dominant upper caste Hindu profile. It had never expected to be ousted in the very first general elections in the state and that, too, by Congress. As of now, the BJP workers would have to do without the star campaigner from Gujarat. The party has had a tough time explaining to the people from time to time why Tata Motors eventually went to Gujarat to set up the Nano plant when it had earlier showed interest in setting up the unit in Uttarakhand. As reported earlier, Tata Motors already has a facility in Pantnagar. This factor had come up during the campaign for the Lok Sabha polls in 2009.
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With poll panel watching, candidates go door to door
Haridwar, January 25 Two-time legislator Madan Kaushik is visiting every colony in the seat as are other candidates. Kaushik is meeting people in all areas whether these are dominated by the minority community or Dalits or slum-dwellers. “As a legislator one’s responsibility increases and more so when one is also a Cabinet minister. We have to look after not one Assembly segment but the whole state. Don’t think that I am coming to your homes during the election time, but for the past five years I have been doing development works for you,”said Kaushik while campaigning in Valmiki Basti near Devpura-Mayapur. Congress candidate Satpal Brahamchari had started door-to-door campaign quite early. He is now ensuring that he meets all traders in the market. “As I have been the Chairman of the Municipal Corporation and have done development works, I can easily identify people. Politics is social service wherein leaders attain posts and positions only due to people’s love and support,” said Brahamchari while campaigning in Chandracharya-Bhagat Singh Chowk. Congress rebel and Independent candidate from the Ranipur-BHEL seat Ambrish Kumar was trying to ensure that voters were made aware of his electoral symbol, an LPG cylinder. “All voters complained of corruption. Besides, the Mahakumbh fund scam is fresh in their minds. I have been active in Haridwar for the past 25 years and hence the local people know that I have been an MLA from the area even when Uttarakhand had not been carved out of Uttar Pradesh and have also been active as a social activist,” said Ambrish while campaigning in Muslim-dominated Jwalapur. Murslein Qureshi, candidate of the Awami Hakook Party from the Haridwar city and Ranipur-BHEL seats, who was campaigning in Shiv Lok Colony on a small truck holding a loudspeaker, drew attention of the people. “I am a mass leader and have been working for the people. I will continue to work for them if I am elected from the seat,” said Qureshi.
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UPP for ban on liquor till polling
Nainital, January 25 In a letterto the Chief Election Officer and the District Election Officer at Almora, UPP president PC Tewari has sought that liquor vends across the state should be closed from the eve of the Republic Day to the time when polling is over. He has pointed that several candidates are luring the voters with liquor. Tewari has also sought that a gathering of supporters by making monetary payments should be stopped. Besides, he has asked that the Chief Election Office step in to check the use of posters, banners, stickers and hoardings which are not biodegradable. He has pointed that the intense use of such articles is harming the ecology of the state. He has suggested that the nomination of candidates using such material should be cancelled immediately. — TNS
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Industrial package was given to boost growth: Ravi Shankar
Dehradun, January 25 “The industrial package was not a form of charity handed to the people of Uttarkhand but the package was aimed at helping the state build conducive economic environment and investment. The former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had extended the industrial package, had visualised Uttarakhand becoming a strong and robust state economically in the coming years,” Ravi Shankar Prasad told media persons. To a BJP charge that the Congress government had curtailed the industrial package, the Union Finance Minister had yesterday stated that the package was withdrawn as it created distortions. It may be mentioned that the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab had objected to the special industrial package extending to Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, after which the UPA government had curtailed the industrial package. However, taking a dig at Mukherjee, Ravi Prasad said the UPA did not follow similar yardsticks when it came to Congress-ruled states in the North-East and even Jammu Kashmir that continue to benefit from the UPA largesse. Picking on Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who, during their aggressive campaigning, had blamed the Uttarakhand government for failing to utilise the Central funds, Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “These charges by the trio have hurt the feelings and sentiments of the people of Uttarakhand. The Congress is behaving as if the funds belong to the party; on the contrary it is the exchequer’s money and in the federal set-up, the funds are divided according to certain norms,” stressed Prasad. He also castigated the Congress government at the Centre for misusing the intelligence agencies for it’s own political end in the Salman Rushdie episode. “A deliberate communal colour was sought to be given and even the intelligence agencies were not spared to keep Salman Rushdie away from Jaipur. The Congress stood exposed after the DGP of Mumbai claimed it had not received any intelligence report that Rushdie faced threats from the underworld. The Congress has begun misusing the intelligence agencies,” said Ravi Shankar
Prasad.
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VHP to oppose quota for Muslims
Dehradun, January 25 “As part of our agitation against Muslim reservation, dharnas will be held at district and tehsils of Uttar Pradesh on January 30 and in February in the rest of the country. We have also held meetings in Lucknow, Jaipur, Bhopal, Nagpur, Pune, Hyderabad and Roorkee,” Togadia told mediapersons yesterday. He said in the past, the VHP had launched similar stirs on the issue of Amarnath yatra and Ram Setu and the government of the day was forced to climb down. “The sub-quota announced by the government would snatch away the livelihood from the Hindu members belonging to the socially and economically weaker sections of society,” he charged. — TNS
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Elect Cong for development: Sahay
Mussoorie, January 25 Subodh Kant Sahay, addressing a large gathering at Nainbagh, elaborated that the corruption in BJP government was rampant, especially during the Nishank’s tenure as chief minister, revealing its true face on the issue, thus exposing it in the public eye. Sahay further said that BJP had forgotten the corruption scandals of the government in Karnataka. Sahay also said that BJP, by creating road blocks during the passing of Lokpal Bill in Parliament, had proved that it was not serious on the issue of corruption whereas Congress was committed towards a strong Lokpal Bill to fight against corruption. Subodh Kant Sahay, addressing the gathering, also said that their District had a vast potential as an important tourist destination, especially in the filed of adventure and spiritual tourism, in addition to the construction of Tehri Dam that could change the face and provide employment in the region. But despite several requests from his side as Tourism Minister, the BJP government in the state had failed to provide any road map for tourism, thus depriving the people of the region from enjoying the fruits of development. Sahay further asserted that to bring the region in the tourism road map, it was important to elect Congress government in the state and his ministry would also provide necessary support. The Member of Parliament from Tehri, addressing the gathering, said that during the first term of Khanduri government, Congress had won 5 Parliament seats and now it would win state elections during his second term as chief minister. Ace shooter Jaspal Rana, who left BJP and joined Congress, said that BJP had not utilised his potential in the past three years and neglecting him completely, thus forcing him to join Congress as it was the only party that could lead the state on the path of development. Speaking on the issue of rebel Congress candidate contesting elections from Dhanaulti, Rana said that no Independent candidate could play an important role in the development of the constituency. Hence, it was important to elect Congress candidate from here. When questioned by the media on the role of his father Narayan Singh Rana, who is still in the BJP, Rana responded by saying that he was free to act according to his will and would not comment further. The Congress nominee from Dhanaulti, Manmohan Singh Mall, alleged that BJP had failed to provide relief to the people from the region during the natural calamity that occurred last year despite Central Government allocating adequate funds after the visit of the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to the state. He assured the people that if elected, he would work towards providing employment and leading it on the path of development.
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ITBP, SSB stage flag march in Pithoragarh
Pithoragarh, January 25 The SP said the district had received four companies of the SSB and the ITBP, besides 500 Home Guard jawans from Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to be deployed in the four Assembly seats. “This is in addition to the force the district police has deployed,” he said. Bharane said as the district was surrounded by Nepal on the east and Tibet on the north, the police had made elaborate security arrangements for the elections. Besides, the SSB personnel had been deployed at five bridges on the Nepal border in the district, while the ITBP had been asked to keep extra vigil on the China border. “The SSB personnel are also keeping an eye on counterfeit currency that may be smuggled into the district from Nepal during the elections,” said the SP.
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Candidates go for personal-contact campaign
Pithoragarh, January 25 In Pithoragarh seat of the district, where the main fight is between BJP stalwart and Cabinet minister Prakash Pant and Congress candidate Mayukh Mahar, both the leaders today visited the houses of voters. Prakash pant, accompanied by BJP members belonging to Chandak, Guranchaur and Diktoli, the areas where he took lead in the last elections, requested the voters to vote and support this time as well. Congress candidate Mayukh Mahar visited remote areas of Rari Khuti and Rameswar and requested the people to vote for a change this time. “Mahar visited the villages of Rari Khuti, Chamali, Naltu, Jakh, Seri Barakot and Gurna, with his team and requested the villagers to vote for development and a change,” said Mohan Sharma, a Congress worker accompanying the Congress candidate. Third main contestant in the seat, Colonel Ram Dutt Joshi of BSP, also visited the rural areas of the constituency. “ We are telling the people that the BSP is the party without which there will be no government in the state after this election,” said Joshi, the BSP candidate. In Didihat Assembly seat, the BSP candidate, Jagjiwan Singh Kanyal, has further intensified his campaign this time and appealed to the voters to give him a chance this year. “We are telling the people that both Congress and BJP have been involved in corrupt practices, one at the Centre and the other at the state level,” said Kanyal. His rival, BJP state chief Bishen Singh Chufal, also visited the rural areas of Talla Bagar on the Indo-Nepal border and requested the voters to give him the fourth chance this year. “We are requesting the people to vote for Chufal so that he becomes chief minister of the state this time,” said a Chufal supporter. In Gangolihat seat, BJP candidate Geeta Thakur today visited remote villages of Bel Patti and ran a mass campaign at Bankot, Banigaun, Kaseri, Siroli Kamad and Khirmandey villages of the areas. “We are requesting the voters to vote Geeta to empower women and Dalits of
the region,” said Lalit Pathak, a Geeta Thakur supporter. In Dharchula seat, UKD candidate and top leader of the party Kashi Singh Airy today visited the remote areas of Talla Johar and requested the voters to give him a chance this year. “The presence of UKD is essential in the Assembly,” said an Airy supporter. Other candidates from the seat, Khusal Singh Piplia of BJP, Gagan Singh Rajbar, sitting MLA and Independent candidate from the seat, and Virendra Singh Pal of Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha also toured the areas of Talla Johar and Tawaghat today and requested the voters for giving them a chance
this time.
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Battle between those for, against hydroelectric projects
Pithoragarh, January 25 Most of the locals are not in favour of these projects under construction in the area. They fear that these projects would not only destroy the ecosystem of the three main world famous glaciers of Pindari, Sundar Dhunga and Kafni but would also deprive the locals of their right on the rivers and glaciers. Independent candidate from Kapkot Himmat Singh Aithani, said: “I am fighting the elections to save the Pindari Glacier. My slogan is ‘Ab ki bari Him pindari’.” “If only gharats (water mills) of the area could be saved, we can give employment to 20,000 youths of the area,” claims Aithani. The BJP has fielded Balwant Singh Bhauriyal. He claimed that he had worked hard to develop the region in the past five years from the infrastructural point of view and also promoted local industries to give employment to the
local youths. “Today, for the first time in the history of Kapkot, local schools have teachers, ” says Bhauriyal. Congress candidate from the seat Lalit Farswan is also a Zila Panchayat member from the Kausani area. He said his first priority would be to stop migration from the area. “We can stop the migration of the youth from the area by developing tourist infrastructure at the glaciers of Pindari, Sundar Dhunga and Kafni,” says Farswan. The Congress candidate claimed that the development agenda of the party was needed in the area as road connectivity to the region was very poor. “Due to the apathetic attitude of the BJP-led state government towards development, travel on 30-km road from Bageshwar to Kapkot takes two hours today as the road is full of the debris at many places,” said Farswan. UKD (P) candidate Harish Pathak is contesting on the local issue of the rehabilitation of all villages hit by landslides. “Forty two villages of the region have been declared as landslide-prone areas by geologists, who had been sent by the state government to survey the area. But nothing has been done so far,” said Pathak. On the other hand, locals say that they are facing a crisis that threatens their continued existence due to hydroelectric projects coming up in the area. They said even Sumgarh village where 18 schoolchildren were buried alive under the debris 16 months ago owing to a landslide has not been shifted from the area. |
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Ajit Singh woos farmers at Mangalore
Haridwar, January 25 Chaudhary Ajit Singh who recently sworn in as Union Minister was here today to address his first election rally at Mangalore here to urge people to cast their vote in favour of RLD candidates, so that the problems of peasants, labourers and suppressed section of society could reach the Assembly. “Be it Uttarakhand or Uttar Pradesh, farmers are being used by political parties as votebank. But when it comes to solve their problems, these parties are no where to be seen. It’s only the RLD which is pro-farmer,” said Chaudhary Ajit Singh, a seven-time Lok Sabha member. When asked while at the Centre the RLD is supporting the Congress but in Uttarakhand his party candidates are contesting against it, he said every state had a different political situation. On a bail out package to the Air India, Chaudhary Ajit Singh said a committee had been set up to look into the problems being faced by it, which would soon submit its recommendations. Ajit Singh also referred to his association with former UP Chief Minister and Pauri Garhwal parliamentarian Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna, particularly in 1989 when they merged their respective Lok Dal’s to form the Janta Dal. Party candidate from Mangalore Atul Chaudhary also addressed the gathering and gave an assurance to the voters that the interests of all sections of society would be looked into and the problems of farmers would be resolved.
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Poll Snippets
Poll officials in Udham Singh Nagar has issued notices to some contestants in Jaspur for failing to submit registers of expenditure for scrutiny to the office of the Returning Officer (RO). The candidates who have been issued notices by RO Shyam Singh Rana include Anand Singh of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Progressive) and Independents Fariyad Ahmed, Chanderpal, Mohammad Akram, Shahnawaz and Anees. An explanation has been sought from them. They have been warned that a case will be registered against them. Entry of nominee’s husband banned
Poll officials in Almora have banned the entry of an Independent’s husband in the areas covered under Almora and Someshwar tehsils. The entry of Girdhari Lal Sahu has been banned keeping in mind the possibility of law and order situation being disturbed in these areas. Sahu is the husband of Rekha Arya who is contesting as an Independent from Someshwar. Sahu is learnt to be having a criminal record in Bareilley district of Uttar Pradesh. Press vehicles being misused
With Poll officials keeping a strict vigil on the transportation of cash to various constituencies, those still indulging in the practice are using vehicles with Press and advocate written on vehicles. Sources say that with the police allowing these vehicles to pass through the check points, these vehicles are becoming very useful for those indulging in the malpractice of taking unaccounted cash for distribution. It is not only cash which is being taken in such vehicles even liquor boxes are being transported in such manner. National Voters’ Day
A three-day exhibition was inaugurated at Parade Ground on Wednesday by Deputy Chief Secretary Alok Kumar Jain and state Chief Election Officer Radha Raturi to commemorate National Voters’ Day. The election process of 1952 and the issues such as importance of election and activities related to election arrangements were described through pictures. Around 3000 children from 31 schools and colleges participated in a run for vote rally.
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Nainital, January 25
Haridwar, January 25
Senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad today rejected claims made by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that the special industrial package granted to Uttarakhand had created distortions. Instead, he said, the
NDA-led government had granted the industrial package to give a boost to industrial growth in the nascent state.
Personnel of the Indo Tibet Border Police (ITBP), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and the India Reserve Battalion
(IRB) today staged a flag march in the town in view of the forthcoming Assembly elections in this border district. NA
Bharane, SP, said keeping in mind security on the polling day on January 30, international borders adjoining the district would be sealed at 5 pm on January 28 so that no unwanted element could enter this side of the border from Nepal and Tibet.
Haridwar, January 25
People appear happy to see ministers and legislators whom they had elected five years ago, besides other candidates vying for their votes. BJP candidate Madan Kaushik, former MLA Ambrish Kumar, former Municipal Corporation chairman Satpal Brahamchari, eunuch candidate Sonia Madam and Murslein Qureshi are all visiting voters door to door.
Affected by frequent landslides and glacial erosion in the world famous Pindari Glacier, the remote Assembly segment of Kapkot in Bageshwar district seems to be witnessing a battle between the supporters of hydroelectric projects and its opponents in the area.
Kapkot has a total of 82,783 voters. The number of male voters is 41,153 and of female is 41,630. The number of voters in the region has increased after the Kanda seat too merged into this after the recent delimitation.
He also claimed that now with the RLD being part of the United Progressive Alliance, he would make sure that pro-farmers policies and issues affecting them like the FDI in retail or minimum support prices for their crops were taken into consideration.