Anniversary of Rampur Tiraha Massacre
Legal cases against statehood agitators to be withdrawn
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 2
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said today that legal cases against the statehood agitators would be withdrawn and a cell would be set up for advocacy of the pending cases. He said he would personally monitor the cell.

Bahuguna was speaking after paying tributes to the martyrs of the statehood movement at Shaheed Smark located at Rampur Tiraha in Muzzafarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh today.

He said the state would always be obliged to residents of Rampur Tiraha and its adjacent villages for their help and support extended to the statehood agitators during the Rampur Tiraha episode in 1994. Bahuguna announced Rs 10 lakh each from the state government’s side to establish 'milan kendras' at Medpur, Sisouna, Bagowali and Rampur villages. He also announced to felicitate two elderly persons each from these four villages on November 9 on the foundation day of Uttarakhand.

He said the formation of Uttarakhand had a historical significance for the reason that it was recommended by the then Uttar Pradesh government assembly. He said October 2, 1994, was a black day for democracy as people heading towards New Delhi to demand for a separate state were dealt barbarically at Rampur Tiraha.

The Chief Minister said women had played a crucial role in the formation of the state and they were seen as a symbol of power.

He thanked UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav for taking positive initiative in resolving pension and other problems relating to assets between the two states.

Also present on the occasion were Irrigation Minister Yashpal Arya, Urban Development Minister Pritam Singh Panwar, Roorkee MLA Pradeep Batra, Muzaffarnagar district panchayat member Mumtaj Begum, Haridwar District Magistrate Sachin Kurve, DM Muzaffarnagar Surendra Singh and Director, Culture, Uttarakhand, Beena Bhatt, among others. 

Kin of martyrs still await justice
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, October 2
Floral tributes were paid to the statehood agitators who were killed in the October 2, 1994, massacre at Rampur Tiraha, Narsain, here today.

Seventeen persons from the state were killed in the crackdown on the statehood agitators by the Uttar Pradesh police, who were going to New Delhi to take part in a separate statehood demand rally.

Besides CM Vijay Bahuguna, activists of the UKD and a large number of statehood freedom fighters from different districts of the state paid obeisance at the Shaheed Sthal.

Cabinet minister from the UKD (P) Pritam Singh Pawar attributed the creation of the separate state to the martyrs and thousands of people who took part in the movement from the 1970s to 1990s.

Demanding making Gairsain the capital of Uttarakhand instead of Dehradun, UKD (P) Central Chief Trivendra Singh Pawar said since the creation of the state, the successive governments had failed to cater to the aspirations of the martyrs, statehood fighters and local people.

Central secretary, labour cell, Uday Ram Semwal, lamented that the purpose for which the martyrs had sacrificed their lives had not been fulfilled.

“We are proud of the parents of the martyrs who had laid their lives for a separate state. But what have we done for the development of the state in the past decade? Political parties are busy in filling their party coffers and politics has touched a low,” he said.

The UKD activists also thanked Mahavir Sharma, a local resident, who had given his land for the construction of Shaheed Sthal at Nairsain, Muzzaffarnagar district.

Tears in his eyes, Sharma said he vividly remembered the October 2 night of that year when he saw atrocities being committed on hapless people in front of him. “I couldn’t have taken money in lieu of this land as the hue and cry of that night is still fresh in my mind. I just pray that their souls rest in peace and their families be blessed,” said Sharma.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Kranti Manch activists offered flowers at the Ganga ghat in remembrance of the martyrs. Led by statehood fighter JP Pandey, they prayed for the peace of the departed souls and demanded conviction of the alleged police personnel, including top police officials, who were responsible for the massacre.

“The CBI has not been able to put behind bars the police personnel, who in aid of Samajwadi Party activists, had carried out a pre-planned massacre on the Uttarakhand activists. Instead of punishing these officials, they are being promoted,” said Pandey.

Martyrs of Rampur Tiraha massacre remembered
Ajay Ramola

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna honours two residents of Rampur Tiraha village in Muzzafarnagar who had helped the statehood agitators. Tribune photographs

Mussoorie, October 2
Regional folk and Garhwali album artistes today gathered at Shaheed Sthal in Jhoola Ghar here and paid tributes to the martyrs of the statehood agitation who were killed in the Rampur Tiraha incident near Muzzaffarnagar.

The local artistes recalled the supreme sacrifices made by the state agitators for the cause of the creation of the separate state of Uttarakhand.

Speaking on the occasion, Garhwali film maker Anil Godiyal said the incident of Rampur Tiraha that took place on October 2 was of immense importance for the people of the state as the sacrifices of the statehood activists that day laid the foundation stone for the formation of Uttarakhand.

Godiyal, however, said the political class these days was bent towards fulfilling its own political ambitions instead of providing development to the people of the state.

He further said the people should be indebted to the martyrs as it was because of their sacrifices that they were reaping the benefits of separate state of Uttarakhand.

Pradeep Bhandari, Manoj Tamta and others were present on the occasion.

Govt for penalty clause to streamline health van services
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 2
The Health Department is working on having a penalty clause for streamlining and ensuring greater accountability in the operation of mobile health vans operating in Uttarakhand under the public private partnership (PPP) mode.

In an agreement signed between a private partner and the government, the provisions regarding penalising the private company for poor service, missing staff etc and maintenance of equipment were not included.

“Random checking will be done by the Health Department to ascertain the presence of staff, and services being rendered. Any deviation from the agreed set of norms and service would result in punishment,” said Piyush Singh, Additional Secretary, Health.

Besides the 108 emergency ambulance services, the non-emergency 13 mobile health vans are operating in all the districts of the state. Two private partners are operating these vans owned by the Health Department.

Out of the 13 mobile van units, private partner Rajbhara Medicare is responsible for running the 11 units; the remaining are being operated by Jain videos. In Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts, Rajbhara Medicare has been entrusted with the task of running the mobile vans. All the 13 districts are covered by one van ambulance so that patients in remote parts, too, could avail medical facilities on their doorsteps.

The mobile health vans equipped at a cost of Rs 1 crore offer diagnostic facilities comprising X-ray, ECG, ultrasound and pathology tests. A 10-member team comprising three doctors and four para medical staff etc serves these vans.

Along with including the penalty clause for greater accountability, the Health Department is also keen that the medical staff hired by the private partners compulsorily register with the Uttarakhand Medical Council (UMC) that has so far not found favour with the staff.

As the private partner is responsible for hiring the medical and paramedical staff, most of the employees are hired from outside and they are unwilling to register with the Uttarakhand Medical Council (UMC). 

State yet again faces power shortage
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 2
The state is once again reeling under power shortage for the past few days due to a shortfall in hydropower generation.

In the wake of this, Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited will be buying 100 MW for Rs 30 crore for the month of October. Power purchase for each day will cost Rs one crore.

Out of the 100 MW, 50 MW has been bought from a trading company and the remaining 50 MW from Sri Cement Company at the rate of Rs 3.90 per unit. The cost price is within the permissible limit as the Uttarakhand Electricity Regulatory Commission has allowed power purchase up to Rs 4.20 per unit. Besides this, the corporation has also planned to buy 250 MW for November and 325 MW for December.

The corporation will also buy 450 MW for January next year, 400 MW for February and 300 MW for March. The power purchase for these three months will cost Rs 355 crore. These days, the difference between demand and supply is ranging between five and six million unit (MU). Hydropower generation remained 15 MU on Sunday.

To meet the shortage, power cuts were imposed across the state. Hill areas faced power cuts for four hours, Haridwar Kotdwar, Doiwala and Rishikesh three hours, four hours in big cities, 3.50 hours in small cities and six hours in steel companies and non-continuous industries.

Women gherao Bahuguna’s car
Tribune News service

Dehradun, October 2
Chief Minister Vijay bahuguna had to face the wrath of women, who had participated in the movement for the creation of Uttarakhand, when he went to pay homage at the martyrs' memorial at the District Magistrate office here today.

After paying tributes, the Chief minister was about to leave the venue when women statehood agitators led by Kamla Pant gheraoed his car. They wanted to give a memorandum of demands to the Chief Minister and were angry that he did not come to receive it. Later they gave the memorandum to Bahuguna while he was sitting in the car.

Qureshi releases book penned by planning panel members
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 2
Governor Aziz Qureshi released a book, “Beautiful Country: Stories from another India”, written by Dr Syeda Hameed and Gunjan Veda, members of the Planning Commission, at an impressive ceremony at the Raj Bhavan auditorium yesterday. A colourful cultural presentation was also held on the occasion.

Several eminent people, including renowned English writers Ruskin Bond and Nayantara Sahgal, graced the book release function.

Addressing the gathering after releasing the book, the Governor said the book had given “voice to the voiceless” and tells us about the “nameless, faceless millions of our country”.

He added the authors had highlighted the struggle of the poorest of Indians in this collection of 13 chapters covering 17 states of India.

The Governor said the book should be included in the academic curriculum of universities in Uttarakhand as it would enlighten the youth about the condition of the country.

He quoted great Faiz Ahmad Faiz on the occasion saying, “Mataa-e-lauho qalam chhin gayee toh kya gham hai ki khoon-e-dil mein dubo lee hain ungliyaan maine.”

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said the presentation on the book organised had “touched our souls”. “This was really a unique presentation based on music and poetry,” he added. Bahuguna said we should reach out to the people and their hopes should be kept alive.

Satpal Maharaj, MP, spoke of the gripping narrative of the book and said it was “extremely enlightening”. Justice Rajesh Tandon said the beauty of our country lay in the creativity and resilience of its people.

Ruskin Bond said the book was not an ordinary travelogue but a very special one as it had been written with a purpose. He added, “Even amid despair, we must never stop our efforts to improve our condition.” He admired the presentation made on the book by Dr Syeda Hameed, Zakia Zaheer, Reni Singh and Shivani Verma.

Nayantara Sahgal said it was apt that the book was released on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti as it was Gandhiji who had always said policies should be made while keeping in mind the poorest of the Indians. An audio-visual presentation along with the recitation of ghazals of poets like Faiz, Hali, Iqbal, Jaanissar Akhtar made the ceremony memorable.

Introducing the book, Hameed said it was aimed at the common Indians, especially the youth.

Justice Irshad Hussain (retd), Vice-Chancellors of Doon and Uttarakhand Technical Universities Dr VK Jain and Prof DS Chauhan, Doon Art Society’s Monika Talukdar and several literary persons of the city were among those present. 

Left to back URM candidate in Tehri bypoll
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 2
The CPI and the CPM have decided to support the candidate of the Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha (URM), Kunwar Japinder Singh, in the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection. TPS Rawat, president of the URM, Samar Bhandari, state secretary of the CPI, and Vijay Rawat, state secretary of the CPM, took the decision at a meeting here today.

The Left parties decided to support the URM as they had a common stand on various issues like the foreign direct investment (FDI), domicile of the state, reservation in promotion and opposition to the Public Private Partnership. The URM and the Left were opposed to the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD).

Rawat said the UKD was a finished party as it had abandoned its ideology. He added the UKD talked about issues before public vociferously while now it was smitten with greed for power. Adviser of the URM SS Pangti said Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, out of his love for his son who is Congress candidate for the Tehri byelection, was misleading the people of the state.

Meanwhile, Kunwar Japinder said his party would not ditch residents of the state as was done by the UKD. The URM also demanded a security cover for its candidate.

Rajnath Singh to campaign for Shah
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 2
Senior BJP national leader Rajnath Singh will begin campaigning for BJP candidate for the Tehri parliamentary seat Mala Raj Lakshmi Shah from tomorrow by addressing an election meeting at Vikasnagar.

According to the BJP office, the senior leader will address election meetings at several places in Vikasnagar, followed by election meetings in the Raipur Assembly segments.

On October 4, he will hold an election meeting in Sahiya, Chakrata, and Purola in Uttarkashi. Senior BJP leaders, including former Chief Minister BC Khanduri, will also accompany him.

On October 3, former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhiryal Nishank will also address rallies in the Tehri Assembly segments.

Brahma Kamal in full bloom at high Himalayan glaciers
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 2
Brahma Kamal, the state flower of Uttarakhand, is in full bloom at high Himalayan glaciers nowadays.

“The flower has 61 varieties world over. Besides in the Himalayan region, it is also found in northern European countries,” said Dr Lalit Tiwari, a botany professor in Kumaon University, Nainital.

According to botanists, this flower is found in Dunagiri, Kapkot, Chifla, Brizganga, Khalitop, Namik Milam Pindari, the Hiramani high himalayan region of Kumaon and Kedarnath valley, Ukhimath, Rudraprayag, Mandrani valley, Roop Kund and in the Hemkunt Sahib area.

“The altitude of this flower is from 2,500 to 3,500 m, which begins after Himalayan meadows ends and glacier region begins,” said Dr Tiwari.

Local communities living near the high Himalayan region have been using this flower to cure several diseases.“This flower has medicinal value. It helps cure mental instability, headache, is used as pain reliever and in various gynaecological problems,” said Jeevan Danu, a resident of Nachni village in Munsiyari valley, Pithoragarh.

According to Jeevan, the flower sprouts in the month of March and gets full plant size in July. It blooms in the months of September and October. “After October, the flower comes into seeding stage and after November it starts withering and its colour gets fade.

Govt has failed to control crime: Rawat
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 2
Former Uttarakhand Cabinet minister Trivender Singh Rawat today blamed the Vijay Bahuguna government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. He said the government had failed to control the law enforcement agencies.

“For the last six months the Chief Minister is busy in elections. Earlier it was his own Assembly election from the Sitarganj constituency, and now it is the Tehri parliamentary byelection which his son Saket Bahuguna is fighting on the Congress ticket. No wonder, he has lost grip over the state. Incidents of thefts have increased and thieves have not spared even political leaders, what to talk of the common man,” said Rawat while speaking with mediapersons.

The former Cabinet minister criticised the state government ministers belonging to the Congress for using election meetings to make popular announcements. Recently, Health Minister Surinder Singh Negi made an announcement at an election meeting to provide generic medicines to the people through government hospitals. It was uncalled for, he said.

Rawat said the ministers were violating the model code of conduct and misusing the government machinery for the elections. “The Chief Minister has undertaken 33 helicopter flights for campaigning for his son. We will like to know who is footing the bill,” he added.

He termed a statement of Revenue Minister Yashpal Arya about Bhagat Singh Koshiyari as irresponsible. Arya had yesterday said since Koshiyari was a bachelor, he did not know what a father’s love was.

On Sunday, Koshiyari had said Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna was modern day Dhritarashtra as he was busy in his son’s electioneering and had forgotten his duties towards the people. 

No dengue case in Kotdwar, says Negi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 2
Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi has denied symptoms of dengue in a patient at Kotdwar. However, he urged the public to take preventive measures against dengue.

He has directed the Medical Superintendent to instruct all Chief Medical Officers to make people aware of preventive measures against dengue.

Clarifying the rumours about the detection of a dengue case at Kotdwar, the Health Minister said as per the report submitted by the CMO Pauri, no symptom of dengue was found in a pathological test of the patient.

However, Negi has appealed to the public to remain alert of dengue. He has urged the people to keep water tanks covered, avoid water deposits near their houses, roofs, flower pots, change water of coolers, avoid leaving old tyres, containers and garbage in open and prefer wearing full sleeve clothes.

New DGP seeks support of people to check crime
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 2
Director General of Police Satyavrat Bansal has appealed for support from all citizens of the state in checking crime.

On the first day after taking charge yesterday, he urged people to inform the police on seeing any suspicious, anti-social and criminal activity through an email to the police headquarters at -dgc-police-ua@nic.in, or call on toll free number 1090 or 1800180411 or 9411112780.

He assured of quick action on the information given by the informer whose identity would be kept confidential.

Bansal expected support from people in maintaining law and order in the state.