Cong flouting democratic norms to reach majority in House: BJP 
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 17
In view of Bharatiya Janata Party legislators siding with Congress, with first Sitar Ganj legislator Kiran Mandal and now Ghansali legislator Bhim Lal Arya reportedly being in hiding, BJP district committee has termed this a definite ploy by Congress to reach the majority in Uttarakhand Assembly.

A protest was held in this regard by district BJP committee at Devpura where party leaders said that Congress is using all means to make sure it reaches the 36 magical figure, putting all democratic and moral norms on hold. Led by youth wing chief Naresh Sharma, party activists raised slogans against Congress Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, state Cabinet Ministers Yashpal Arya and Indira Hriyadesh for carrying out a secret mission of luring BJP legislators with crores of rupees to resign from legislatorship.

"This is totally a blackspot in politics of Uttarakhand since the state came into formation 12 years ago.The state, which needs to have good governance for overall development, is being run by traders who are eying legislators and offering money in crores, which is nothing but black money," said Vikas Tiwari, youth wing city coordinator.

Later, the party activists burned the effigy of Congress leaders, demanding Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi to intervene in this matter, which is hurting the democratic norms as well as spoiling the image of the state where horse trading is being done by ruling government to lure Opposition legislators.

Women's wing state secretary Poonam Jha said that despite being Cabinet Ministers, Yashpal Arya and Indira Hriyadesh and even Cheif Minister VIjay Bahuguna were keeping mum on this entire episode, and even lauding their efforts in luring BJP legislators to Congress, which shows the true face of the Congress Party.

Party leaders also decided to stage similar programmes and protests in the coming days to sensitise the public and make comparisons between previous BJP government, which was corruption free and led by BC Khanduri, and the current one of Congress, which is fostering corruption only by offering bribes to public representatives.

UKD (P) to support CM in Sitarganj
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 17
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) has decided to extend support to Chief Minsiter Vijay Bahuguna in Sitarganj byelection.

Party president, Trivender Singh Panwar, after holding a meeting in Khatima, Sitarganj, said his party was against the horse-trading resorted to by the state government in order to win the byelection, but because it was part of the state government, they would support Bahuguna as well.

Pawnar castigated Bahuguna for giving the right of land to the Bangladeshi refugees and said they would oppose this move by holding an agitation from July 1 to 7 throughout the state.

BJP team meets Governor
Demands probe by CBI into Mandal case
Tribune News Service

Dehradun , June 17
A delegation of senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders today called upon Uttarakhand Governor Dr Aziz Qureshi at Nainital Raj Bhawan and demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the allegations of money changing hands in the buying of loyalties of BJP legislator Kiran Mandal from the Sitarganj assembly segment of Udham Singh Nagar district.

Kiran Mandal, BJP legislator from Sitarganj, had resigned from his seat as well as from his party to pave way for Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to enter the state assembly. In the byelection to be held on July 8, Vijay Bahuguna is the Congress candidate. It was alleged by the BJP leaders that money changed hands in buying loyalties.

The 20-member BJP delegation comprised former Chief Ministers BC Khanduri and Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Leader of the Opposition in Uttarakhand Assembly Ajay Bhatt, Uttarakhand BJP chief Bishan Singh Chufal, Banshi Dhar Bhagata and Rajesh Shukla, both legislators, and other senior state party leaders. In a memorandum submitted to the state Governor, BJP leaders urged him to recommend a CBI probe into the whole episode of luring Kiran Mandal by the Congress.

The party leaders charged that the action by the Congress to lure opposition legislators through money power was a negation of the democracy.

The delegation also requested the Governor to instruct the state Director General of Police (DGP) to ensure that the family members of Kishore Rai, a close relative of Kiran Mandal and Pardhan of Shakti farm, should be given adequate security. Kishore Rai had publicly alleged that senior Congress leaders, including state Congress president Yashpal Arya, was involved in the money transaction that allegedly took place to lure Kiran Mandal.

The Governor assured the delegation that he would take impartial action regarding the matter. The Governor also wished Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha member, on his birthday.

Monsoon not before June 30, say scientists
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, June 17
Predicting that there will be no rains before June 30 this year, G. B. Pant University scientists at Pantnagar have said that the hot temperature in hill areas of the state has broken the records of the last 11 years.

"In the last 11 years, the rainfall in the hills has been not less than 210 mm average in the months of May and June, but this year it has recorded only 6 mm of rains in the month of May and only 88 mm in the month of June till date," said Dr HS Kushwaha, chief of Meteorological Department of the university.

According to Dr Kushwaha, in the last 11 years, the minimum rainfall was recorded in the year 2005, when it rained only 71.5 mm in hill areas of Kumaon district. "Following that year, the minimum rains in the entire Kumaon region remained at 210 mm," said Dr Kushwaha.

"The lack of moisture due to failure of rains has helped in the increase of the temperature, which has soared to 38 degree Celsius in some areas of the hill region. It has crossed 36 degree Celsius in Almora and Pithoragarh districts. The maximum temperature of Almora district in the month of June has remained 26 to 28 degree Celsius from the year 2004 to 2011, but this year it has crossed 36 degree Celsius mark and reached 36.5 degree on June 16, said a scientist from Vivekanand Parvatiya Krishi Annushandhan Sansthsn based at Almora.

The meteorologists say that the temperature in Kumaon region has witnessed a record increase of 8 degree Celsius, which will obstruct the monsoons as the minimum levels of temperature will also reduce the rain quantity during monsoons. Till date the hill portion of Kumaon region would have witnessed a minimum of 181 mm of rainfall, said Dr Kushwaha.

According to Pant Nagar University Meteorological Department, barring the year 2009, the rainfall in the month of June has always been more than average. Whereas it rained 173.5 and 100.5 mm in the year 2008 and 2007, respectively, it increased to record-breaking 258.5 mm last year, but this year it has gone down from the minimum of 7.5 mm in the month of June in Kumaon region, said the Almora- based agriculture scientists.

RSS favours Kalam as President
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 17
With the meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders still not arriving at a conclusion for the projection of a Presidential candidate from their side, RSS national chief Mohan Bhagwat has mooted the name of former President APJ Abdul Kalam, terming him as the "choice of the masses".

Mohan Bhagwat, who was in Haridwar here today to meet Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Ram Bhadracharya at Chitrakoot ashram, said the RSS was just suggesting the name of APJ Kalam as his tenure as the 11th President of India was remarkable and exceptional with common people still wanting him to become the President again, which the Congress had deliberately failed to accept.

Though the RSS chief made it clear that Ramanandacharya had first suggested Kalam’s name for the President election which he was forwarding and would be having discussion with NDA leaders to make sure that the sentiments of the people may be honoured.

Refuting to divulge further details, Bhagwat added that as the RSS was no political organisation with no Parliamentarians or legislators, they didn’t have a direct saying in the President's election but could just give suggestion or urge political parties to moot for a non-political candidate for the first citizen of the country.

On saints' agitation to be carried out at Jantar Mantar tomorrow under the aegis of Jagadguru Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati of Jyotish-Dwarka Peeth, Bhagwat said the RSS supported any movement regarding cleaning of the Ganga which was carried out in right earnest.

Bhagwat said maintaining the sanctity, purity and constant flow of the Ganga was of the utmost importance which needed to be ensured as billions of people had devotion for the Ganga which was not just a river but regarded as ‘mother’.

He voiced for a comprehensive, detailed, scientific and environmental perspective while sanctioning of any hydro power project on the Ganga and a committee of local people, saints, environmentalists, scientists and power project engineers be formed so that every issue be discussed before project sanctioning.

Jagadguru Ramanandacharya voiced for stopping all hydro projects and dams being built on the Ganga and related sub- tributaries, demanding that no such projects to be made in near future.

He also supported the ongoing agitation of Swami Sanand and Matra Sadan ashram for saving the river making a point that he too supported any movement initiated with noble interests.

Bheem Lal Arya set to join Congress
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 17
The stage is all set for BJP, Ghansali, MLA Bheem Lal Arya, joining the Congress camp in Uttarakhand.

Making intentions clear, sources reveal that BJP MLA Bheem Lal Arya has written to party national president Nitin Gadkari requesting him not to pit a BJP candidate against Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in the Sitarganj Assembly byelection. Arya also recalled the contribution made by the late HN Bahuguna, former UP Chief Minister and father of Vijay Bahuguna, towards development of Garhwal region. He also denied being kidnapped or being kept in some confinement or acting under some pressure.

Meanwhile, BJP continued to be tightlipped on the matter.

Leader of Oppostion and BJP MLA Ajay Bhatt admitted that the party can do little if someone had decided to commit suicide, obviously referring to earlier Kiran Mandal episode, and now Bheem Lal Arya’s intentions of joining Congress.

However, BJP sources acknowledge that it is getting difficult for the party to keep it's flock together in Uttarakhand. On other Congress leaders claim to be in touch with BJP leaders. 

BJP MLA Malchand denies joining Congress
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 17
BJP MLA from Purola Malchand today ruled out any possibility of joining the Congress. In a statement issued here today, Malchand alleged that the Congress was trying to fool the public by giving such misleading statements. The MLA said he was a committed worker of the BJP and would in no circumstances join the Congress.

He alleged that BJP sitting MLA from Sitarganj Kiran Mandal had taken money from the Congress to resign from his seat. Malchand said the people of Sitarganj would give a befitting reply to Congress candidate and Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna in the Sitarganj bypoll.

Dilip Rawat, BJP legislator from Pauri Garhwal, said none of the BJP legislators would be trapped by the Congress government.

Koshiyari visits ashrams on his 70th birthday
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, June 17
On his 70th birthday today, former state Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari met religious gurus and visited ashrams to seek blessings.

Koshyari, who is currently a Rajya Sabha member, met revered religious guru Jagad Guru Shankaracharya Raj Rajeshwaram Maharaj at his Kankhal ashram. Both had a long chat behind closed doors which Koshyari later termed as dwelling on spiritual, religious and personal one.

Giving blessings, Shankaracharya said Koshyari had been a leading political figure in the state and politicians like him were rare these days.

Reflecting on his life, Koshyari termed statehood movement of separate Uttarakhand as one which had a deep impact on him. On knowing that former CM was in the city, a large number of BJP activists and his admirers thronged the Kankhal ashram. He refrained from speaking on any political issue.

Pindar region villagers stage demonstration
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 17
In protest against the proposed Devsari hydroelectric project in the Pinder-Ganga Valley of Chamoli district, local villagers staged a demonstration in the Pindar region today. The villagers said they would not allow land acquisition in the name of the project.

One of the protesters Mahipat Singh Kaithat said they would not allow the government to destroy their valley in the name of development.

Another protester, KD Joshi, read out the resolution signed by the representatives which has been sent to the Chief Secretary against the Devsari dam.

The agitation against the proposed Devsari hydroelectric project in the Pinder-Ganga Valley had been going on for quite some time.

The Pinder Ganga is the only free-flowing tributary of the river. 

No dearth of jobs for professionals: Expert
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 17
The Selaqui Academy of Higher Education, Dehradun, organised a talk on "Opportunities and challenges for engineering and management professionals in India and abroad" by Prof Surendra Kumar, a former distinguished scientist of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai.

The event was inaugurated by Prof BK Joshi, former Vice-Chancellor of Kumaon University. Director and CEO of the academy and former Joint Secretary (Higher Education), Prof SP Gaur IAS (retd), hosted the event.

Addressing the gathering, Prof Surendra Kumar said the aim of organising the seminar was to give exposure to the aspirants of engineering and management about opportunities and challenges of professionals and guiding them to overcome the challenges.

He laid emphasis on the development of soft skills and employability enhancement as there was no dearth of jobs for skilled professionals. He discussed about various government schemes providing jobs to qualified and skilled professionals.

Prof Joshi said: "Today's students are fortunate that they get multiple options to select career. Sky is the limit for young aspirants, provided they put in their best efforts for excelling in the career opted as well as life."

Prof Gaur said aspirants were required to go through self-analysis and find out their area of interest and potential which would enable them to choose the right career and lead a successful life. He guided the aspirants to be prepared to face the challenges of job and life globally. 

Ex-servicemen to hold dharna in Delhi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 17
The Retired Honorary Commissioned Officers Association will be staging a dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in support of implementation of one-rank one-pension for the ex-servicemen.

Interacting with mediapersons in Dehradun today, JB Karki, president of the Retired Honrary Commissioned Officers Association, said the Centre was seemed to be ignoring the ex-servicemen and little interested to implement one-rank one-pension.

He said the ex-servicemen would not even hesitate to gherao Parliament if the Centre did not bring a change in its attitude towards ex-servicemen, who had spent prime time of their life in service of the nation.