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Bharat bandh gets partial response in Dehradun
Protest cripples life in Pithoragarh, Almora
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BJP claims success in state
Mixed response to bandh call in Haridwar district
Commercial establishments and shops remained closed against the diesel price hike in Haridwar on Thursday. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur
Only medical shops were open in Mussoorie
BJP strongman Kandari may join Cong today
Ex-minister angry, but still with party: Chufal
3-day fair of water deity concludes
Devotees carry a palanquin of deity Mostamanu in Pithoragarh on Thursday. VHP calls upon saints to support Hindus in Assam
VHP internatioal chief Ashok Singhal with saints in Haridwar on Thursday, seeking support for Hindus affected by Assam violence. Tribune photo: Rameshwar Gaur
Landslide blocks 23 roads in Champawat
Animal sacrifice in temples an offence: HC
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Bharat bandh gets partial response in Dehradun
Dehradun, September 20 The traders’ associations along with lawyers supported the bandh. Some marketplaces like Chakrata Road, Paltan Bazaar and Dhamawala remained closed and the traders held a march there. However, almost all markets opened after 2 pm. The bandh passed off peacefully with no major untoward incident being reported. Police deployment was beefed up throughout the town, especially in areas where rallies were planned. The CPI, the CPM, the SP, the JD (S) and the Uttarakhand Parivartan Party held a joint scooter rally. The rally began from the old bus stand and culminated back there after passing through all important junctions of the city. Another group also held a procession from the old bus stand that moved through Gandhi Park and Clock Tower and ended at the bus stand itself. They also burnt an effigy of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the FDI near Gandhi Park. The traders held a march that started from Siddharth Hotel at Darshani Gate and passed through Clock Tower, Paltan Bazaar, Dhamawala and Chakrata Road. They also burnt
an effigy of the Central government. All political parties, which protested today, demanded rollback of hike in diesel price, quashing of cap on LPG cylinders and FDI in retail. The speakers said the people were not willing to pay the increased price of diesel anymore. They added the subsidy cap of six LPG cylinders was unviable and unjustified. They also opposed the FDI in the retail sector that would eliminate businesses of small retailers. The traders’ organisations were more concerned about the FDI. They said the move would finish Indian retailers and push 4.5 crore people out of jobs. They added the so called liberal policies of the government were meant to appease international forces, mainly the USA. Lawyers led by president of the Dehradun Bar Association (DBA) Surinder Pundir protested against high inflation. Pundir said the lawyers boycotted work today in protest against increasing prices of petrol, diesel and other essential commodities. |
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Protest cripples life in Pithoragarh, Almora
Pithoragarh, September 20 “The joint meeting of the BJP and traders today rejected the plea for the bandh on September 21 and observed it with the rest of the nation on Thursday,” said Pawan Joshi, secretary of the district Vyapar Sangh. All shopping complexes, markets, banks and educational institutions remained closed during the bandh in Pithoragarh town. Later the traders held a rally at Gandhi Chowk of the town, criticising the Union government for approving foreign direct investment in the retail sector. “The Union government has by inviting foreign capital in the retail sector not only kicked off its fall, but also has at the last phase of its regime got small traders and consumers of the country at the mercy of giant foreign traders,” said Joshi. In Almora, the traders jointly made the bandh successful and formed various groups to draw cooperation of all business establishments. “All businessmen, banks and private schools cooperated in the bandh,” said Sanjay Shah Tikku, president of the Nagar Vyapar Mandal, Almora. But the markets in Champawat district remained open as the two factions of the Traders’ Union could not arrive at a consensus. “We are not taking part in the Bharat Bandh as we do not have a tradition to follow calls given by political parties. Our state traders’ organisation has not issued any call for a bandh,” said Tribhuwan Giri, president of the Champawat Nagar Vyapar Sangh. However, members of the Champawat Bar Association observed a bandh in support of the call.aIn Bageshwar, traders and BJP workers took part in the bandh that was complete. “Both groups organised a joint meeting in the town and pledged to oust foreign capital from the retail sector of the country,” said Umesh Fulara, town president of the Vyapar Sangh. |
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BJP claims success in state
Dehradun, September 20 Along with the masses, the different vyapar sangathans and non-Congress organisations have expressed anger against the corruption and recently announced anti-people decisions by Congress government. “This is a warning to the corruption-infested Congress government to mend its ways otherwise it will be decimated in the state,” he said. Stating his party’s position on the issue of 100 per cent FDI in retail, Gehlot said the party was against the decision as it would weaken the economy of the state and decimate small shopkeepers. “The government took the decisions in a hurry on FDI in retail, petrol and aviation to divert the attention of the people from the coal block allocation scam. The BJP is against the FDI in retail as the profits earned by companies will not be invested in the country,” he said, while speaking with
mediapersons. |
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Mixed response to bandh call in Haridwar district
Haridwar, September 20 The trading community in the city periphery downed shutters of shops and commercial establishments, while suburban Jwalapur witnessed full closure of such establishments. In the interior and rural areas, the impact of the shutdown call was hardly visible with a few people burning effigies of the UPA government. A small two-wheeler rally with respective party flags was taken out in a particular area. While Bharatiya Janata Party activists on their own protested in the streets, Communist parties - CPI and CPM - jointly held a protest with the Samajwadi Party. The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Progressive) came out in support of the shutdown, while Bahujan Samaj Party activists kept silent to the call for bandh. BJP legislators hailing from Haridwar district Madan Kaushik,(Haridwar city), Aadesh Chauhan (BHEL-Ranipur), Chandrasekhar Bhattewala (Jwalapur) and Sanjay Gupta (Lakshar) remained present in the morning with party activists at their respective Assembly segments. Addressing an open road meeting, Madan Kaushik lashed out at the UPA government for failing to provide good governance. Instead, its policies were directed against the poor sections of society. The increase in petrol, diesel and LPG rates was an indication to that. He said that with FDI being allowed in multi-brand retail sector, small-medium traders will be deprived of their livelihoods and prices of commodities will rise, having a direct bearing on the common man's pocket. Communist parties and Samajwadi Party jointly held a protest in the city. A rally was staged at Chandracharya Chowk where orators lashed out at the Congress for failing to control inflation and in providing subsidies to the people. District CPI executive member RC Dhiman said that in the UPA-II tenure, petro prices had risen tremendously. Inflation had touched an all-time high. Uttarakhand Kranti Dal Progressive labour cell secretary Uday Ram Semwal cited loss of public revenue due to the coal scam, 2-G scam and Commonwealth Games scam, involving billions of crores of rupees. Several Congress ministers and leaders stood to benefit due to corrupt practices, he alleged. “If this money had been utilised in providing subsidies to people in the petrol-diesel-kerosene-LPG sphere, people would have benefited. But the Congress, instead of feeling sorry for these scams, was trying to lessen the subsidy, which showed the intentions of the government,” said Semwal. The Congress tried to play down today’s bandh with city party chief OP Chauhan terming the Bharat bandh as a failure in Haridwar. He said that there had been no impact of the shutdown, barring in some pockets in the district where the BJP had influence, and there, too, saffron activists forcibly shut down the shops. Uttarakhand Congress Committee state unit chief JP Pandey, along with party activists, staged a demonstration at the DM's camp office. Coming to the defence of the Congress, Pandey said that petrol-diesel prices had been increased according to the fluctuating international oil prices. On cutting of LPG subsidy cylinders, he pointed out that during the NDA government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the price of LPG per cylinder had been raised from Rs 140 to Rs 232 by BJP, which was now opposing the hike. Meera Raturi, women's city wing spokesperson, said that the shutdown was no answer. India needed major economic changes in its policies, and everyone’s support was needed. |
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Only medical shops were open in Mussoorie
Mussoorie, September 20 The trading community observed a complete bandh till 3 pm and only medical shops remained opened. BJP workers led by local MLA Ganesh Joshi gathered at Landour Bazaar and held a procession. They persuaded the people to keep their businesses shut in protest against the rise in the price of diesel and the FDI issue. Most of the markets remained closed and vehicular movement was normal though protesters blocked traffic at some places. Private schools also remained closed. A senior police officer said a large number of personnel were deployed to avoid any untoward incident. Meanwhile, salespersons were seen playing cricket on roads during the bandh in Mussoorie. Tourists were at the receiving end as all shops and hotels remained closed during the day. The MLA termed the bandh as successful and said the people were reeling under the increased price of diesel and cap on LPG cylinders in the country. He added it was a spontaneous response against the draconian policies and corrupt practices of the UPA government. Local BJP unit president Roop Singh Kathait, Kushal Singh Rana, Mohan Petwal and others were present on the occasion. |
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BJP strongman Kandari may join Cong today
Dehradun, September 20 Since the last two days, there had been speculations of the leader bidding adieu to the BJP and joining forces with the Congress. The national general secretary of the BJP, Thavar Chand Gehlot, confirmed that Kandari was indeed miffed with the party after he was denied the Tehri parliamentary ticket but he said the party was trying to resolve the matter. Neither denying nor confirming his imminent exit from the BJP, on being contacted Kandari said: “Whatever you have heard about me is true, but I will make known my decision publicly tomorrow and would also tell why I am quitting the party,” he said enigmatically. Different theories are doing the rounds about the reasons behind Kandari’s exit, more so after party sources confirmed that in his resignation letter submitted to the district president of the BJP (Rudraprayag unit), Kandari had attributed the entry of Virender Singh Bisht, a former Congress leader into the BJP as the reason behind his exit. Bisht, who hails from Rudraprayag, had joined the BJP on September 18. Confirming Kandari’s antagonism with the BJP, former Agriculture Minister Trivender Singh Rawat said Kandari, who had lost the Assembly election from Rudraprayag in 2012, was unhappy after Mala Raj Laxmi was made the party candidate for the Tehri bypoll. “His name had figured in the panel but ultimately Mala Raj Laxmi was selected. This did not go down well with him,” said Rawat. Kandari, a party veteran, had joined the BJP in 1991 and had successfully contested from Rudraprayag, notching victories in all elections. But his defeat in the 2012 Assembly elections at the hands of his brother-in-law Harak Singh Rawat, who is Cabinet minister in the Bahuguna government, proved to be a big blow. “ For the first time in his political career, since joining the BJP, Kandari tasted defeat. Since then he has been desperate to stand for elections and had been eyeing the Tehri seat. He hails from Tehri but has always contested from Rudraprayag. But after his brother-in-law scored an upset victory, Kandari has been desperately seeking a new seat for himself,” said a BJP leader.
Ex-minister angry, but still with party: Chufal
Pithoragarh, September 20 “Kandari has still not left the party but expressed resentment over the induction of Virendra Bisht in the party. He has fears that Bisht’s activities in Rudraprayag can hinder his political future, but party has confined the activities of Bisht in Dehradun only,” said Chufal, while addressing a press conference here on his arrival from Dehradun today. However, Chufal hinted that Kandari was dissatisfied over the decisions of some senior leaders in the party and saw these as obstruction to his political future. “He (Kandari) has expressed displeasure over some senior leaders’ actions to keep him aside on party matters, fearing these leaders want him to become inactive in the party,” said Chufal. Asked if the alienation of Kandari could affect the BJP's prospects in the Tehri byelection, the BJP chief said Kandari had not yet left the party. Chufal expressed satisfaction over his party's cooperation to “Bharat Bandh” and said the Union Government, by bringing in foreign capital in the retail sector, wanted to ruin small and medium sector units. ‘Today they are bringing retail traders to the country, tomorrow they will bring foreign farmers to cultivate our land,” said
Chufal. |
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3-day fair of water deity concludes
Pithoragarh, September 20 “The Mosta, which is considered the deity of water in local villages, has this year given abundance of rain and as a result the number of devotees has increased this year,” said ND Kandpal, chief priest of the deity. “The Mostamanu Mela Committee has disclosed that the Uttarakhand Government has given Rs 3 lakh for organising the fair this year. The committee extended the period of the fair to three days which was held for one day till last year,” said Kandpal. Congress MLA from Pithoragarh Mayukh Singh Mahar organised the fair. Bishen Singh Chufal, BJP president, was the chief guest of the main function of the fair. According to the mela committee, lakhs of devotees, who is also considered patron of the Gorangdesh valley of the district, thronged the mela this year. Of them, the number of village women, who come traditionally to meet their relatives due to the fair, was big this time. The traditional craftsmen, who sell agriculture equipment, also reached the mela from far off places. |
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VHP calls upon saints to support Hindus in Assam
Haridwar, September 20 Singhal is generating support for this cause by meeting saints, akhada chiefs, members of Hindu organisations so as to provide moral and financial help to the riot-hit Hindus in Assam. While holding talks with Maha Nirmani Akhada and Nirmal Panchayati Akhada saints, VHP chief said Hindus were being targeted in Assam while the state government and the Centre seems to be taking no action to save the Hindus. He said that Hindus were being killed and their houses were burned. They were being forced to leave their land, he added. Urging saints to come forward in support of the victims of the Assam ethnic violence, Singhal said extremists were targeting Hindu families in Kokrajhar and other districts of Assam. He accused the Congress of playing vote bank politics in Assam since the Independence. He said people of the Bangladeshi origin were still pouring in the state and said the government had failed to control it. “It is high time we defeat the anti-Hindu and anti-nationalists forces or India will be on the brink of division. The country's border with Bangladesh should be sealed and the Centre should make sure the violence is stopped,” added
Singhal. |
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Landslide blocks 23 roads in Champawat
Pithoragarh, September 20 According to the district management in charge in Champawat, the administration is giving priority to repairing of school buildings, water schemes and electricity supply. “We will ensure that no crisis of essential goods occurs in these areas,” said Abhishek Tripathi, SDM, Champawat. In Bageshwar district, Purkuni villagers have complained that the administration has not paid heed to the crisis so far. “The villagers, who have shelter in local ANM centre, have not received any relief material so far. This is causing shortage of ration and villagers are facing inconvenience,” said Champa Devi, a block development centre (BDC) member from the area. According to sources, the passengers, including children and women, of a Pithoragarh-bound roadways bus had to stay inside the bus for 18 hours at Sinyari, as the road was blocked at Chalthi. According to the information received from Tanakpur town, a red alert continued for the fourth day today as the water flow in the Sharda river reached up to 3.98 lakh cubic metre per second on Tuesday. |
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Animal sacrifice in temples an offence: HC
Dehradun, September 20 Shiv Singh Bisht, a resident of Bageshwar, had recently filed a petition in the Nainital High Court asking for relief against the HC’s order banning animal sacrifice in temples. The objective of the petition was to get permission to slaughter animals at a temple at Kot Bhramri in Bageshwar. The court of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Chief Justice Barin Ghosh at the Nainital High Court today rejected the petition and reufsd permission to slaughter animals. Meanwhile, the PFA has also raised concern about the upcoming festival of Dasehra and submitted a list of 30 temples before Chief Secretary Alok Jain, stating that the District Magistrates must be alerted well in advance so that they may seek the availability of additional force in order to prevent contempt of the HC order that calls for a ban on such practice. “Also, as directed by the court, the government needs to issue advertisements in various newspapers to make the general public aware that killing animals for religious purposes is a crime and shall be punishable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960,” observed Gauri Maulekhi, member secretary,
PFA, Uttarakhand.
plea rejected * Shiv Singh Bisht, a resident of Bageshwar, had filed a petition in the Nainital High Court asking for relief from ban on animal sacrifice in temples. *
He wanted permission to sacrifice animals at a temple at Kot Bhramri in Bageshwar.az The court of Chief Justice Barin Ghosh and Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia on Thursday rejected the petition and refused permission. |
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The district unit of the BJP and the Vyapar Sangh observed a successful Bharat Bandh today in Pithoragarh and other towns of the district. The president of the Devbhumi Vyapar Sangh had asked the BJP to observe a bandh tomorrow in view of local fair ‘Mostamanu’.
National general secretary and Uttarakhand in charge of the party affairs Thavar Chand Gehlot today said the nationwide shutdown call given by the National Democratic Alliance
(NDA) against foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail, diesel price hike and cap on cooking gas subsidy and corruption was successful in the state.
There was a mixed response in the district today to the nationwide call for bandh given by Opposition parties in protest against capping of subsidised LPG cylinders, diesel hike and allowing Foreign Direct Investment in multi-brand retail.
The trading community in the city periphery downed shutters of shops and commercial establishments, while suburban Jwalapur witnessed full closure of such establishments.
The three-day fair at the Mostamanu temple culminated today with lakhs of devotees, who had come from all corners of the district, having glimpses of the deity.
“The Mosta, which is considered the deity of water in local villages, has this year given abundance of rain and as a result the number of devotees has increased this year,” said ND
Kandpal, chief priest of the deity.
International chief of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Ashok Singhal has called on Hindus, saints, religious organisations to come out in support of the Hindus being targeted in Assam.
Singhal is generating support for this cause by meeting saints, akhada chiefs, members of Hindu organisations so as to provide moral and financial help to the riot-hit Hindus in Assam.
