Tehri Election
Stars to light up Raj Laxmi's campaign
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24
A string of star campaigners comprising national and state-level leaders are expected to light up the election campaign of Uttarakhand BJP candidate Mala Raj Laxmi Shah, who is fighting the Tehri parliamentary election.

The Uttarakhand BJP has enlisted the services of national leaders comprising BJP national president Nitin Gadkari, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley, senior leaders Rajnath Singh, Anant Kumar, Ravi Shankar, Shanawaz Hussain, Mukhtar Naqvi, Kalraj Mishra and Gopinath Munde.

"We will be preparing a complete itinerary of the leaders' tour of the state according to their availability, and their visits would be announced after we receive confirmation from the leaders," said Satish Lakehra, BJP spokesperson.

However, the national leaders comprising former Chief Minister BC Khanduri, BJP Uttarakhand chief BS Chufal and former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank have already begun actively campaigning for Mala Raj Laxmi Shah.

Though Mala Raj Laxmi Shah was the first to hit the election trail as the BJP had announced her candidature well ahead of the Congress, her campaign has been more or less low key. "She has been relying on door-to-door campaigning and small meetings but as the campaigning draws near, we will raise the tempo with the help of star campaigners," said Chufal.

He also said that the party would consider the re-entry of rebels who had quit during the 2012 Assembly elections, only if they have influence in the Tehri parliamentary constituency.

"The Congress is inviting one and sundry to it's fold, irrespective of their utility. There has been rejoining by some leaders who had left the Congress during the Assembly election. We are not thinking on those lines," said Chufal.

Wave in favour of BJP, says Gehlot
"Is Saket Bahuguna or Bandopadhyaye ?"
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, September 24
The state in-charge of BJP, Thavar Chand Gehlot, on a day's visit to oversee the preparations for the Tehri bypolls in Mussoorie, said that the people were ready to show mirror to the Congress by voting in favour of the BJP.

Gehlot said that he had visited a number of Assembly segments in the Tehri parliamentary constituency and had gauged the mood, which assured victory for the candidate of his party. He said that this byelection will serve as the final nail in the coffin of the Congress Party with the repercussions being felt in the next Lok Sabha elections.

Gehlot further said that Vijay Bahuguna, fearing loss, had decided to contest from Sitarganj and not from any Assembly segment in Tehri parliamentary constituency. He also said that Saket Bahuguna should clarify whether he was Bahuguna or Bandopadhyaye to the voters of their parliamentary constituency. Gehlot said that the price rise, capping of LPG gas cylinders and various scams done by the Congress government at the Centre will be main issues in the bypolls here. He also said that the people were aware of the misgivings of the Congress. Therefore, they had made up their mind to vote for BJP candidate Mala Raj Laxmi from Tehri parliamentary constituency. He also said that the party leaders joining the Congress will not make any difference in the poll results for their constituency.

A meeting was also held with the party workers where Gehlot appealed to work for the BJP candidate and ensure her victory in bypolls.

Former Cabinet Minister Khajan Das, state organisation secretary Dhan Singh, Vijay Ramola, Kushal Singh Rana, Anil Godiyal and others were present on the occasion.

Objection over Saket's candidature
Heated arguments between DM, TV channel owner
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24
Owner of a local TV channel Manish Verma exchanged hot words with District Magistrate Ravinath Raman today, when the latter refused to take his objections with regard to Saket Bahuguna, Congress candidate for Tehri Lok Sabha byelection.

Verma, who is fighting as an Independent candidate and is currently in jail on various charges, came to register his objection on the scrutiny day against Saket. He said Bahuguna was heading three private companies as director and had income running into several crores.

Raman refused to take his objections, saying the time for registering objections was 11 am. Since no one raised any objection about him, he prepared the final order. Verma, on the other hand, accused Raman of flouting the rules.

He said the timing for scrutiny was fixed from 11 pm to 3 pm and he arrived at the DM's office at 12.45 pm to register his objections. Despite that his objections were not being taken notice of. He accused Raman, who is District Election Officer as well, of working in favour of the government.

Verma said he would fax his objections to the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commission. 

Cabinet meeting at Gairsain on Nov 9
Govt not to contest High Court verdict on residents
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24
The much-touted Cabinet meeting of the Uttarakhand government proposed to be held at Gairsain in Chamoli district on October 2, 2012, has been postponed and would be held on November 9, 2012.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna today announced that the Election Commission had not given permission to hold the Cabinet meeting at Gairsain on October 2 in view of the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection scheduled to be held on October 10.

Earlier, the Chief Minister, in a bid to show his commitment towards the development of the hill areas, had proposed to hold a meeting of his Cabinet at Gairsain in Chamoli district on Gandhi Jayanti.

He told media persons here today that the Cabinet meeting would now be held at Gairsain on November 9, on the occasion of statehood day.

Bahuguna also said that his government would not contest the verdict of the Nainital High Court which had ruled that anyone residing in Uttarakhand on the day of formation of the state on November 9, 2000, would be considered as a resident of the state. His decision not to contest the High Court verdict will not go down well with regional parties like Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), which oppose the verdict and demand that only original habitants of the state who had been living in the state since 1950 should be considered as permanent residents. Uttarakhad Janmanch, another regional outfit, has lashed out at the decision of the Uttarakhand government. Devender Dhyani, a senior leader of the Janmanch, said that it was a conspiracy to make the original inhabitants a minority in their own state. He demanded that the cut-off date for permanent residents should be August 15, 1947, and Article 371 should be imposed in the state banning any purchase of agricultural land by outsiders.

Meanwhile, Gulzar Ahmed, a rebel Congress candidate who had filed his nomination papers for Tehri Lok Sabha byelection, today announced his decision to withdraw his candidature in the presence of Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and state Congress chief Yashpal Arya. Gulzar Ahmed, a supporter of Union Minister of State Harish Rawat, had earlier contested from Sahaspur Assembly segment as a Congress rebel candidate in the state Assembly polls and secured more than 10,000 votes.

Lt. Gen. MC Budhani (retd) , a former Army general, also joined Congress today. Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna expressed his hope that his entry would strengthen the base of Congress amongst exservicemen.

UKD (P) accuses Bahuguna of violating model code of conduct
Criticises CM for accepting HC decision on inhabitants' issue in rally
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (P) has expressed reservations on the Chief Minister’s statement supporting the High Court’s decision on the issue of original inhabitants.

Addressing mediapersons today, vice-president AP Juyal said Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna had violated the model code of conduct by publicly announcing that the state government would comply with the High Court’s decision with regard to original inhabitants and would not move the Supreme Court against it.

He said, “The Chief Minister’s acceptance on the cutoff date of the year of state formation for original inhabitant, as delivered by the High Court in its verdict, was against the model code of conduct. He aired his views in a public rally, which was clearly aimed at garnering votes from people of the plain area.”

He said Bahuguna’s refusal to challenge this order in the Supreme Court exposed him further.

“It shows the Chief Minister was least concerned about the interests of the people of the hill areas. By acknowledging those who lived in the state at the time of its formation, the state government was allowing refugees, who came from Bangladesh, Nepal or Pakistan and settled in the state at that time, all privileges and rights due for the citizens of the state. Those who had been living in the far-flung hill areas and had to leave their houses in search of education and employment will not get their share,” he said.

He also took on the Chief Minister for going by the High Court’s decision over original inhabitant and dithering over reservations in promotion.

“If the government is so sincere to follow the High Court decision, then it should have also approved of High Court’s decision over ban on reservation in promotion. On that account, the Chief Minister has constituted a committee to consider the issue in greater depth. It also proves that the state government deliberately presented a weak stand on the issue of original inhabitants in the High Court. It was a premeditated move.”

He said his party would not only complain to the State Election Commission and but also oppose the decision through agitation on the roads.

Khanduri visits cloudburst victim in hospital
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24
Former CM BC Khanduri today visited Dinesh Jhamloki, a local journalist who was injured in the recent Ukhimath cloudburst.

Khanduri visited the ailing Jhamloki at Srinagar Medical College. Jhamloki, who lost his entire family in the cloudburst, is under intense trauma and was shifted to Doon Hospital a few days ago.

"I have asked the Doon Hospital authorities to ensure that best possible treatment is given to Jhamloki. He is battling with serious injuries and the loss of his family members has left him shattered," said Khanduri.

Khanduri was accompanied by Principal Superintendent BC Pathak and senior physician SD Joshi.

Nanda Devi idols taken out in procession
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, September 24
Nanda Devi festivities came to an end today in Kumaon region as after traditional worship on the eighth day of installation of the deity, a big procession, depicting various forms of the goddess, was carried out in Almora by devotees.

“The procession began from Dyori Pokhar at Jagdamba Temple, and concluded at Nanda Devi Temple after travelling the entire walled city of Almora,” said Vittu Karnatak, a member of the organisation committee made for the occasion.

According to Karnatak, the Nanda idols will be immersed in water in Dobha Naula on September 26, as the immersion is done only on the auspicious day of the Hindu calendar.

“The main attraction of this more than 250-year-old tradition, is worship of Nanda idols by the erstwhile clan of Kumaon kings, which was solemnised by the Nainital MP and descendant of Kumaon kings, KC Singh Baba, this year,” said Karnatak.

The Nanda festivities were also coming to an end in Didihat and Champawat towns as after the worship of the goddess for eight days, the statues were now seeking auspicious time for immersion. “We made a statue of the goddess on the third day of Nanda worship and established it in the traditional Bageswar Temple on the same day. Since than the devotees are coming in thousands to worship the goddess of Kumaon kings, who had their capital in this town before 1665,” said Shankar Pandey, a member of the Nanda Mahotsawa Samiti in Champawat.

The Nanda worship concluded late on Saturday night in Didihat town, where the migrants from Johar valley celebrated the worship every year. “The Johari migrants worship Nanda as their clan goddess as they say that it came to Johar valley from Garhwal region hundreds of years ago,” said DS Pangti, chairman of Nanda committee in Didihat.

Fate of 3 hospitals hangs in balance
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24
As the state prepares to establish a separate medical education department after it was approved by the Cabinet, there is an uncertainty regarding the functioning of the three existing district hospitals - Doon Hospital, Jawaharlal Nehru District Hospital, Rudrapur, and Base Hospital, Almora. The hospitals are currently under the state Health Department but will soon become part of the proposed medical colleges.

A preliminary proposal for establishing a separate directorate for medical education envisages a technical department, which may oversee the education content of medical institutes to be headed by a principal secretary/secretary, medical education, and an additional director (specialist from the field). “Once the medical education department comes into existence, Doon Hospital will come under it. But we are still looking at various options regarding the functioning of Doon Hospital and whether to continue its functioning under the Health Department or not,” said Dr NS Jangpangi, Additional Director, Medical Education.

Even the doctors serving at the three hospitals have favoured the functioning of the proposed medical college-cum-hospitals under two departments, wherein the health issues would be handled by the Health Department and those related to the medical education by the proposed department.

“No doubt a separate medical education department is required to oversee the education content as more and more district hospitals are upgraded to medical colleges, but the curative and preventive aspect of health care in these hospitals should continue to remain under clinicians. We are in favour of the Safdarjang Hospital model, where the two wings (medical and health) continue to be separate. There is also the issue of medico-legal cases that can only be handled by the clinicians,” said Dr BC Ramola, president of Provincial Medical and Health Services. 

Spot assessment of damage due to cloudbursts begins
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24
The Department of Drinking Water has begun making on-the-ground assessment of the damages caused due to the cloudburst in Uttarkashi and Ukhimath.

After the preliminary assessment, teams have been sent to make temporary arrangements whereever possible, so that water supply could be started.

“In some villages along with damaged water pipes, the water source, too, has been extensively damaged, which would require a hunt for a new water source. But temporary arrangements are being made,” said PC Kimothi, Secretary, Appraisal Jal Sansthan.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture Department is also contemplating giving compensation to potato growers who lost most of their crop in the cloudburst.

The harvesting of potato starts in early August. The cloudburst has affected the harvest and transportation of the crop. Raithal, Barsu, Bhatwari, Harsil, Mori, Purola, Gorshali and Sukkhi are some of the villages famous for potato cultivation in Uttarkashi.

RLEK chief gets Sujana Excellence Award
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24
Chairperson of the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK), a Dehradun-based voluntary organisation, Padma Shri Avadhash Kaushal, has awarded Sujana Excellence Award for poverty alleviation and rural development. Renowned agriculture scientist and Rajya Sabha member Dr MS Swaminathan (head of the jury) presented the award to Kaushal in Hyderabad recently.

Present on the occasion were N Chandra Babu Naidu, president, Telgu Desam Party (TDP), Prof Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor, National Academy of Law, MP, and YS Chowdary, Chairman, Sujana Group, and Dr Shanta Sinha, Chairperson, NCPCR.

The RLEK was highly appreciated for bringing into practise its motto of ‘Including the excluded and reaching the un-reached’. Special mention was made about its efforts of taking education straight to the doorsteps of the Van Gujjar community, a Muslim nomadic tribe. The certificate of excellence was bestowed upon the RLEK for its significant contribution to the rural poverty alleviation and dedicated efforts to uplift the marginalised sections of society and preserving ecological balance.

The RLEK is a recipient of the prestigious GD Birla International Award for rural uplifting in rural Uttarakhand and is also in a special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations for having competence in empowering indigenous groups, marginalised population, women and children.

Kailash Mansarowar yatra ends
Last batch of pilgrims back in Pithoragarh
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, September 24
The Kailash Mansarowar yatra has concluded with the last and 16th batch of pilgrims reaching Pithoragarh. Forty-one pilgrims of the last batch will reach New Delhi on September 26 after one night stay at Jageshwar in Almora tomorrow.

“This year the highest number of 774 pilgrims in 16 batches took up the yatra to Kailash and Mansarowar since the pilgrimage began in 1981,” said DK Sharma, manager of tourism of the Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam (KMVN), the nodal agency for the pilgrimage.

Sharma said till this year 12,518 pilgrims from all over the country had completed the yatra to Kailash and Mansarowar in 368 batches. “The pilgrimage, which began with 59 pilgrims in three batches in 1981, saw 774 pilgrims, including 200 women, this year,” he said.

The pilgrimage begins on June 1 every year when the high Himalayan pass of Lipulekh (16,500 feet) opens for Indian pilgrims for four months. “The main route of the yatra is tracked by the pilgrims on the Indian side starting from Sirkha, Gala, Bundi Gunji, Kalapani and Nabhidhang. The Indian pilgrims reach Tibet after crossing the Lipulekh pass. They are taken care of by the Chinese authorities in Tibet during their 12-day stay there,” said Sharma.

Promoting women’s political leadership in India stressed
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, September 24
A three-day conference on “Building Capacity on Gender Responsiveness Governance in South Asia” began on the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy premises under the aegis of the United Nations (UN) today.

According to sources, the conference was attended by around 50 delegates from the South Asian Association Regional Conference (SAARC) countries along with members from the UN who deliberated on building capacity on gender responsiveness governance and laid emphasis on promoting women’s political leadership and governance in India and South Asia.

The chief guest on the occasion, Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit, inaugurating the conference laid stress on working towards strengthening village councils (gram sabhas) for women's political empowerment.

She said the Centre was also making several amendments to the Panchayati Raj Act so that the women were brought into the mainstream at the grassroots level.

Minor raped by veg seller
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, September 24
An 11-year-old minor girl of Chukkuwala locality was raped by Amrit Lal, vegetable seller, on Sunday.

The girl, who was under tremendous stress, narrated the incident to his paternal aunt. The matter was brought to the police, who arrested the accused today. Lal, who sold vegetables at some distance from the victim's house, lured her with the temptation of giving sweets and took her to his house during day time. None of his family member was present.

It was after the girl was raped that he threatened her not to disclose about it to anybody or else he would kill her.

The girl managed to muster courage and told about the incident to her aunt.

Man held with two leopard skins in Bageshwar
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, September 24
The Bageshwar police arrested a man and seized two leopard skins from his possession on Saturday night.

During interrogation, the accused, Darshan Ram, admitted that he works as a mediator and gets Rs 8,000 for delivering the skins at the said destination, said Bageshwar SP Nivedita Kukreti. The accused said he had started this business to repay his bank loans.

“We will soon arrest wildlife traders active in this area,” said the SP.