Tehri bypoll: Parties will have to work overtime to woo voters
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 6
If past records are any indication, then the political managers of both the BJP and the Congress would have to ward off voter apathy for the Tehri byelection slated for October 10.

As the election date draws near, the political managers of both the BJP and the Congress would have to work overtime to bring the voters to the polling booths. Going by the voter turnout in 2009 general election, it was 50.36 per cent for Tehri parliamentary seat, coming two years after the 2007 Tehri bypoll. The election was won by Vijay Bahuguna of the Congress. In the 2007 bypoll for Tehri parliamentary seat the voter turnout was 61 per cent.

During the 2007 Lok Sabha bypoll for Tehri parliamentary seat, the voter turnout was the highest in Uttarkashi Assembly segments at around 71.67 per cent. With the Assembly segments of Tehri, Dehradun and some segments of Rudraprayag recording a voter turnout of 59.53 per cent, Vijay Bahuguna of the Congress had won the seat.

In 2009, with the new delimitation coming into place, the total voter turnout slid to 50.36. The Assembly segments in Dehradun and Uttarkashi recorded a voter turnout of around 48 per cent.

Similarly, in yet another byelection for Vikasnagar Assembly seat held in 2008, the total voter turnout was 58.8 per cent and Kuldeep Kumar of the BJP won it.

Significantly, during the 2012 bypoll for Sitarganj Assembly seat that has been won by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, the voter turnout was a record 76.38 per cent.

" If you go by the 2008 and 2009 byelection for Assembly seats, generally the candidates of the ruling party in the state have been winning, but there have been mixed results in the case of parliamentary seats. It remains to be seen how things unfold for the Tehri bypoll and whether the turnout slides down," said Lakhi Ram Joshi, Uttarakhand BJP vice president.

Raj Babbar flays Kejriwal for "making wild allegations" against Vadra
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 6
Film actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar, MP, here today launched a scathing stack on anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal for his allegations against Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Raj Babbar was addressing a series of public meetings in support of Congress candidate Saket Bahuguna in the Tehri Lok Sabha byelection in Dehradun city. Without naming Arvind Kejriwal, Raj Babbar said that people who had no credibility should refrain from making wild allegations. " Anyone coming with a bunch of papers is making wild allegations," he commented. Appealing to the people to vote for Saket Bahuguna in the Tehri byelection, he said that the Congress candidate had left a lucrative job to serve the people. " He is not here to make money but to serve the people and to carry on the legacy of his father and grandfather," he added.

CM Vijay Bahuguna and Uttarakhand Congress chief Yashpal Arya said that the Congress stood for overall development of the state.

Punjabi morcha extends support to Congress
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 6
President of the state unit of the Congress Yashpal Arya has reiterated the party's commitment to work for the welfare of minority communities in the state.

Addressing a convention of the Punjabi Evam Alpsankyak Morcha organised in support of Congress candidate for the Tehri bypoll Saket Bahuguna here today, Yashpal Arya said after taking over the charge, the Bahuguna government announced the setting up of a separate minority welfare ministry in the state.

He said the Congress would fulfil each and every promised made by the party in the election manifesto.

Yashpal Arya urged morcha members to ensure a landslide victory for the Congress in the Tehri byelection.

Morcha patron Shilpi Arora said the morcha members would make all efforts to ensure victory for Saket Bahuguna.

Morcha president Harjeet Singh and brother of Saket Bahuguna Saurabh were also present.

Shahnawaz Hussain campaigns for Mala Raj Lakshmi today
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 6
Senior BJP leader and national spokesperson for the party Shahnawaz Hussain will arrive in Dehradun tomorrow to campaign for party candidate for the Tehri byelection Mala Raj Lakshmi Shah.

On October 8, Smriti Irani, national President of the BJP Mahila Morcha, will address public meetings in support of the BJP candidate.

Shahnawaz Hussain will campaign in the Tehri Assembly segments of Daki (Sahaspur), Dakrani (Vikasnagar), Jeevangarh and Inamullah building.

On the same day, former Chief Minister BC Khanduri will address public meetings at Ladpur, Govindgarh, Tunwala, Dhobalwala and Kaulagarh. BJP candidate Mala Raj Laxmi Shah will also be present during the meetings.

Former Chief Minister BS Koshiyari will address meetings at Damta (Uttarkashi), Kwansi (Chakrata), Bayardhaar (Chakrata) and Survey Estate (Mussoorie) and Former CM Ramesh Pokhriyal will address a public meeting in Chindunwala (Mussoorie).

On October 8, Smriti Irani will address meetings at Patel Nagar (falling under Dehradun Cantt) at Dakra and at Gauri Shankar Chowk (Rajpur Vidhan Sabha).

On October 8, Khanduri will address election meetings at Mussoorie and at Vikasnagar, and Sahaspur.

On the same day, a road show will be organised by former Cabinet minister Harbans Kapoor in the Dehradun Cantt area.

Cong not doing enough for SCs: BJP
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 6
National president of the BJP SC Morcha Dushayant Kumar Gautam yesterday said unlike the Congress that was adept at making false promises, the BJP had always worked for the benefit of members belonging to the SC communities.

"The Congress government at the Centre has only made half-hearted attempts for the welfare of the members of the SC communities," said Gautam at a press conference.

He charged the Congress-led Bahuguna government with failing to fill the backlog SC government employee posts in the state department.

"The government has not launched a single drive to fill these vacancies and it allowed the recent agitation against reservations in promotions to go out of hand, creating divisions among employees," he charged.

Cong, BJP accused of fooling people
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 6
The Uttarakhand Parivartan Party has accused the Congress and the BJP of fooling the people of the state by making false promises of development.

Addressing public meetings across Dehradun in support of their party candidate for the Tehri bypoll Kuldeep Madhwal, President of the UPP PC Tiwari alleged that the Congress was roping in film stars to attract the public and was shying away from development issues.

He alleged that both parties were using money power to ensure success in the bypoll.

MLA Joshi seeks votes for Mala Raj Lakshmi
Our Correspondent

Mussoorie, October 6
BJP MLA from Mussoorie Ganesh Joshi, along with his supporters, held a march from Landour Bazaar to Library Bazaar here today to seek votes for Mala Raj Lakshmi, party candidate for the Tehri bypoll.

However, police station in charge, Mussoorie, JS Rautela asked the MLA to stop the march near Library Bazaar as they they had not taken permission from the authorities concerned.

The BJP MLA said he was not holding any rally and was only having a people-to-people contact in favour of the BJP candidate for the Tehri byelection.

He alleged that the state government was itself using government machinery for Congress candidate for the bypoll Saket Bahuguna, thus flouting the modal code of conduct.

President of the local unit of the BJP Roop Singh Kathait, general Secretary Kushal Singh Rana, Mohan Petwal, Dinesh Badoni and Madan Mohan Sharma were presnt on the occasion.

Help farmers adopt latest farming methods, Rawat tells varsity scientists
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, October 6
Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Harak Singh Rawat has urged scientists of Pant Nagar university to give attention to agriculture and horticulture in hill areas of the state so that farmers could avail of benefits of the latest research.

Rawat inaugurated the 92nd Kisan Mela on the university campus. He lauded the contribution of agriculture scientists of Pant Nagar in development of farming and alleviation of hunger. He regretted that the university despite being based in Uttarakhand could not contribute much to the development of agriculture in hill areas of the state.

“The university cannot have a sense of satisfaction until it provides hill areas of the state a new agriculture technology,” said the minister.

The Vice-Chancellor of university, Subash Kumar, compared the state with Himachal Pradesh and said while small farmers in Himachal were earning lakhs of rupees from agriculture and horticulture by using the latest technology the farmers in Uttarakhand were fleeing villages in the absence of good agricultural technologies. “Only 30 per cent of agricultural land in the state is under cultivation and out of which only 12 per cent is irrigated,” he said.

Subash urged the government that it should provide packets of vegetables for free to hill farmers for two years so that at least their problems of malnutrition were addressed.

The minister also honoured 11 farmers from the hill region of the state on the occasion for their innovations in the field of agriculture and horticulture. Besides, he released seven books written by university professors on the inaugural day of the four-day mela.

Training camp begins

Haridwar, October 6
The week-long Bharat Scout Master and Guide Captain divisional training camp began at Shantikunj here today. Trainers from 13 states are participating in this camp.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Shantikunj manager Gauri Shankar Sharma said moral values, honesty and spirituality were important to be a successful human being. Camp coordinator Sashi Kant Sharma, Dr Laxmi Nivas Pandey and leader trainer Genda Lal Chaurasia gave tips and basic lessons on the first day of the camp. — TNS

Union Defence Secy to review state roads
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 6
The Union Defence Secretary will be visiting the state in the first week of November to review the roads being constructed by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

He will review the construction of roads, especially at the Nepal-China-Tibet border areas.

Chairman, State Revenue Board, Subhash Kumar, had sought from the chief engineer of the Project Hirak MS Sodhi and chief engineer of the Project Shivalik K Rajdan information about the present situation of the constructions of roads, especially in the border areas of the Garhwal and Kumaon regions.

CM writes to Reddy on multiple gas connections
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 6
Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has written a letter to Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Jaipal Reddy and urged him to hold back the campaign launched by oil companies to cancel multiple gas connections in Uttarakhand. In the letter, Bahuguna said the cancellation of multiple gas connections was posing difficulties for consumers in the state.

Bahuguna has suggested the Union minister to allow two connections to a family where two adults were living with their wives and children considering them separate consumers.

He also laid emphasis on making people aware about multiple gas connections and consider about their welfare before cancelling the same.

GNFC School celebrates founder's day
Our Correspondent

Students of Guru Nanak Fifht Centenary School present a song and dance item in Mussoorie on Saturday.

Mussoorie, October 6
Guru Nanak Fifth Centenary School celebrated its 42nd founder's day on the Vincent Hill premises with fervour and gaiety today. Chief guest on the occasion Manmohan Singh Atwal, Vice Chancellor of University of Himachal Pradesh, was presented with a guard of honour by NCC cadets of the school.

Following that an inter-house march past competition was held, which was judged by officials from the Indo Tibetan Border Police.

A display by pipe bands of two schools (Vincent Hill and Shangri-La) held the audience spellbound. The bands marching to the tune of 'London Bridge is falling down' mesmerised the audience. This was followed by a field display and a song and dance programme depicting the five elements of life, earth, fire, air, water and space by Shangri-La girls.

An inter-house Gurbani competition (solo and group) was also held at the school gurdwara.

The chairman of the school, Sardar Jaspal Singh, said that the school was running on the principles of inculcating cultural values and ethos along with imparting modern education.

The chief guest appreciated the school authorities for imparting quality education to the students and educating the students on all aspects of life. An exhibition was also held on the occasion, where various projects were put on display.

The manager of the school, Sunil Bakshi, informed that the school was a premier institution of Mussoorie and was founded by Mehtab Singh in 1977. Mehtab Singh felt that an essential growth to the community could come only through quality education. Mehtab Singh and Sardarni Jasbir Kaur laid emphasis on selfless service.

Students clean Gandhi Park
Tribune News Service

Students of The Indian Cambridge School clean Gandhi Park in Dehradun on Saturday.

Dehradun, October 6
Students of Rotary Interact Club of The Indian Cambridge School tied up with their sister club, Friends of the Environment Club, of the same school, on a campaign to clean Gandhi Park here today.

They were accompanied by their teachers P. Dhasmana and Suman Chettri. The student president, the vice-president, the secretary and the treasurer of the Rotary Interact Club led from the front in cleaning the park and educating people and bystanders for the need to look after the environment.

Later, some of the people in the public were seen assisting these students.

Janmanch to take out march on November 9
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 6
Officiating president of the Uttarakhand Janmanch Ashok Bahukundi has strongly resented making 2001 the cut-off date for deciding on the permanent residents of the state.

Addressing a press conference here today, Bahukundi said the Congress government in the state wanted to make the hill people minority in their own state.

He said the Janmanch would be taking out a march to Gairsain in Chamoli on November 9 on the anniversary of state foundation day in opposition to the state government’s move to provide permanent residents certificates to outsiders who have settled in the state in the past one decade.

He pointed out that Jharkhand had kept its cut-off date on August 1938 for issuing the permanent resident certificates.

He said if the cut-off date for Uttarakhand was kept at 2001, Uttarakhand will again turn into mini Uttar Pradesh.

Founder member of the Janmanch Devendra Dhyani, referring to the Sitarganj assembly byelection, asserted that in order to win the Sitarganj election, Chief Minister Vijay Bahaguna gave permanent residents’ status to Bengali migrants of East Pakistan.

Dhyani said this was in violation of the Constitution and would be opposed tooth and nail.

Dhyani also opposed the OBC reservation for Jats in Uttarakhand.

He even appealed to the state government to review the reservation for backward castes in the state.

Sow crops that animals don't touch, farmers told

Pithoragarh, October 6
The Agriculture Department has advised farmers of Pithoragarh areas to change the crop pattern to prevent animals from destroying their standing crops every year. District Agricultural Officer Dhanpat Kumar said: “We have advised farmers to sow those crops that wild animals do not touch. Farmers living near Ramganga and Saryu rivers could sow yellow gram as this crop is least damaged by wild animals."

He said besides the Ramganga and Saryu valley areas, Munsiyari, Thal Pankhu Baisait and Gurgoli were among the worst-affected by the wild animal menace. “We are also promoting poly house farming in some fertile areas of the district to save crops from the animals,” he added.

Dhanpat Kumar said Pithoragarh farmers cultivate 42,500 hectares for rabi and khariff crops every year. However, one third of the yield on these fields was destroyed by wild animals. —OC