uttarakhand civic polls
Electioneering picks up in Pithoragarh
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, April 21
Campaigning by BJP, Congress and Independent candidates for the civic bodies' elections has picked up in Pithoragarh. BJP election in charge BS Chufal today campaigned in favour of party candidate for the post of Pithoragarh Nagar Palika Parishad chairman Rajendra Singh Rawat and appealed to people to vote for him. “Since the Congress-led government has come to power in the state, development works have come to a halt," said Chufal.

Rajendra Singh Rawat said: "Congress leaders come to meet people only at the time of the elections. Otherwise, they remain busy in their own beneficial works.”

Congress MP from Almora Pradeep Tamta, who campaigned in favour of party candidate Jagat Singh Khati, asked voters to keep in mind his tenure as the chairman of the Nagar Palika, Pithoragarh.

Independent candidate and former chairman of the Pithoragarh Nagar Palika Jajiwan Singh Kanyal today distributed pamphlets among people, in which he accused Jagat Khati of capturing the Nagar Palika bungalow during his tenure as the Nagar Palika  chairman.

“Khati also kept withdrawing salary as a teacher from a private school during his five-year tenure as the Nagar Palika chairman. He did not go to the school even once," mentioned Kanyal in the pamphlets distributed by him today.

Meanwhile, election campaigning has also gained momentum at Lohaghat, Champawat, Didihat and Dharchula towns of Champawat and Pithoragarh districts. In Lohagaht town, Independent candidate Lata Carma, along with her supporters, sought votes in her favour.

"Women in a large number are campaigning in support of Congress candidate Dasarathi Devi in Dharchula town," said Manoj Ojha, party election in charge for Dharchula town.

Independent candidate for the post of Gangolihat Nagar Panchayat chairman Puran Singh Rawal and Congress candidate Ganesh Singh Bora also campaigned in the town and adjoining villages that have recently been included in the newly formed body. 

BJP, BSP campaign hots up
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 21
The mayoral candidates of both BJP Vinod Chamoli and BSP Rajni Rawat intensified their campaign today. Chamoli today met residents in the localities such as Gandhi Road, Mata Mandir, Patel Nagar, Turner Road, Kishan Nagar, Chor Khala, Sri Dev Suman Nagar, Canal Road, Khudbuda Mohalla, Ajabpur, Saraswati Vihar, Rajiv Nagar and Rajender Nagar.

During campaigning today, former BJP Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was also present. Chamoli also appealed for votes for his candidates as well.

While addressing a gathering he said, “We facilitated approval of six flyovers in the city. Work is also proceeding on eight sewerage plants.”

He said their biggest achievement had been the removal of hoardings from the roofs of buildings which increased revenue. He said, he did not care of the opposition against him from the high and mighty in the removal of these hoardings which were defacing the city.

Nishank said, there was a strong wave in favour of BJP. He said Chamoli had done a lot of development work which would certainly go in favour of the party in the election. People also shared their problems with him. He assured redressal of all their problems.

Meanwhile, Rajni Rawat, BSP mayoral candidate, interacted with public at Chawla crossing, Yamuna Colony, Defence Colony, Gandhi Gram, Sahastradhara crossing, Sanjay Colony, Civil Road and Old Survey Chowk.

Rawat said, “If I become Mayor, I would facilitate caste/ permanent resident certificates to the people of the city. They would no longer require to run from one place to another to obtain these certificates. Not only this, the way I had been working to provide pension benefits to widow, disabled and senior citizens, I would be able to do that better in a position of Mayor.”

Protest against Delhi rape case
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 21
Members of the Violence Against Women Network, Uttarakhand, today staged a dharna against the rape of a 5-year-old girl in New Delhi at Gandhi Park here today. Members of various women organisations, who are part of the organisation, carrying placards condemning rape and atrocities on women participated in the dharna.

The activists demanded strict action against perpetrators of crime against women throughout the country.

They condemned the increasing incidents of rape of young girls.

Use knowledge for society, Guv tells students 
800 from Roorkee engineering college get degrees
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 21
Governor Aziz Qureshi today asked students to contribute to society by their education and good character. He was addressing students at the annual convocation of the College of Engineering, Roorkee, today.

During his address as the chief guest, he referred to the values followed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru as well as Mahatma Gandhi. The Governor said he hoped that in keeping with the spirit of Nehruji’s first address after India achieved Independence, the students would work towards wiping the tears of the most deprived people of the country.

He said even today crores of people did not get enough to eat, had no shelter and many children were deprived of education. He said young people of today must keep all this in mind while working.

The Governor said following the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi, all must work for ending social and economic exploitation. Wishing them all the best for the future, he stressed the need for inculcating values which would build a fine character.

On the occasion, the Governor gave away the Seth Roshanlal Trophy to outstanding students, including Ritesh Kumar, Kanika Aggarwal and Shweta Gaur.

As many as 800 students received their degrees at the convocation.

Preparations on for global yoga festival next year
Seema Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun April 21
The Tourism Department has begun the preparations to hold International Yoga Festival next year. Officials of the department, who are happy over the successful organisation of the festival this year, are also concerned about the several glaring shortcomings in the entire management.

Owing to the lukewarm response of foreign tourists, who could not come to know about this festival as the preparations were made just a month before the festival, the department does not want to leave any chance this time.

Principle Secretary, Tourism, Uma Kant Panwar, said, “We have begun the preparations and the department will contact renowned experts in the yoga/ayurveda and book them in advance for the festival. The applications for advance registration will also be displayed on our website from next month so that the foreign tourists who have to plan their holidays months before the scheduled time could do so.”

He said the department would encourage more stakeholders to participate in this festival. It was also being considered that the festival would not remain confined to the spiritual city of Rishikesh only.

Those interested in the festival as stakeholders can also do so in their respective towns as well at the same time. However, this part of the proposal has not been finalised as yet. The efforts are being made to give a wider and bigger platform to the festival.

Additional Secretary, Tourism, Amit Negi, said, “We will seek more funds from the department to undertake massive publicity about the event. Twice in this year, the advertisement will be inserted in the national and international magazines and electronic channels. With the brisk publicity, we are targeting to attract high-end as well as international yoga enthusiasts for the festival.”

Stakeholder CM Bhandari’s suggestions to prepare ground work for the mega event by holding several events in the form of competitions at district level were also welcomed. Bhandari said, “I made the suggestions to tourism officials regarding yoga centres at the district level. They can organize the yoga events and also hold competition with each other before the final event. This preliminary exercise will not only popularise yoga throughout the state, but also mentally prepare the stakeholders for the mega event.”

He was also of the view that the state should not limit itself to one event but cash in on its image with regard to yoga, spirituality and ayurveda as a whole by holding many such events from one district to another district at different time in one year.

Advocate Generals call upon CM
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 21
Advocate Generals of various states, who participated in the two-day All-India Advocate Generals’ conference that conclude in Mussoorie today, made a courtesy call on Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna at his residence. They appreciated him for organising this conference.

The Chief Minister said that Advocate Generals played an important role in the legal system. In difficult matters, the government benefited from their advice. He said efforts should be made to ensure that pending cases were heard as soon as possible.

Haryana AG HS Hooda, Andhra Pradesh AG A Sudarshan Reddy, Goa AG Atmaram Nadkarni, Himachal Pradesh AG Shravan Dogra, Rajasthan AG GS Bapna and Uttarakhand AG UK Uniyal called on the Chief Minister. Chief Standing Counsel of the Uttarakhand Government KP Upadhyaya was also present.

State has high hopes from Harish: Satpal

Dehradun, April 21
Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj today said the people of Uttarakhand had much expectations from Union Water Resources Minister and Haridwar MP Harish Rawat.

In a statement issue, Satpal Maharaj said Union Cabinet Minister Harish Rawat holds key portfolio, Union Water Resources, and thus should work for the betterment of the people of the state. Maharaj said a large number of villages in Uttarakhand are devoid of drinking water and efforts need to be undertaken to address this issue. He also asked Harish Rawat to ensure the inclusion of Garhwali and Kumaoni languages in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution. Maharaj favoured an autonomous Central University for the PKumaon region. — TNS

Batrohi’s book released
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 21
“Garbgrah mey Nainital”, a book by Laksham Singh Bisht Batrohi, was released yesterday. At a function organised by the Doon Library and Research Centre in Dehradun, former Chief Secretary RS Tolia described Laksham Singh Bisht Batrohi as an imminent literary personality of Uttarakhand. He said Nainital has a rich history and Batrohi’s book is another literary work that has further added to rich literature of the region.

Doon Library and Research Centre director BK Joshi was also present on the occasion. 

Officials on poll duty imparted training on EVM
Our correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 21
Officials on duty for election in all four urban civic bodies of Pithoragarh district were given one-day training on electronic voting machines (EVMs) here today in the presence of the District Election Officer and returning officers.

The officials were trained on the conditions that could lead to cancellation of a ballot paper. They were informed about 10 reasons due to which the ballot papers could be declared as cancelled. “If a ballot paper could not being cancelled due to obvious reasons, the returning officer will be empowered to take the final decision,” said the trainers.

District Election Officer CMS Bisht told the employees on election duty to ensure hurdle-free counting for a free and fair election as expected in a democratic country. Any kind of negligence and violation of the code of conduct in the counting work by the officials will be dealt with strictly, said Bisht.

CDO Raghav Langhar appealed to the officials that they should not to accept any offering from anyone on the election day or before and not to take any kind of drugs that could disturb the conduct of the election in a free and fair manner. “The employees will have to reach the counting centre at 6 am and will have to occupy their seats at 7.30 am. The counting will begin at 8 am,” said Langhar.s

Hindi as UN language demand to be raised at Budapest meet
BD Kasniyal

Pithoragarh, April 21
The demand for adopting Hindi as an official language of the United Nations (UN) will be raised at an International Hindi meet being organised at Budapest in Hungary in the second week of May, Diwakar Bhatt, one of the organisers of the meet, said here today.

Bhatt said the Hindi meet, which is being orgnised with the help of the Indian Embassy in Hungary, would have a proposal tabled before the house of international Hindi scholars for making the language an official language of the UN. “Despite Hindi being spoken by a large number of people in the world, it could not get the honour of being a UN language till date while six languages, which are spoken by a less number of people than Hindi, are official languages of the UN today,” said Bhatt.

He added the schedule of the meet included a seminar which would focus on the state of translation of the Hindi literature into European languages. Scholars from European countries would participate in the seminar.

EVMs to have right to reject button
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 21
Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) for the civic bodies’ election will have a separate button for recording rejection of candidates. Voters can exercise their right to reject a candidate by pressing the button on the EVM.

According to Harish Joshi, State Election Commissioner, the button has been added to the machine for the first time for the civic bodies’ election. “In the Assembly elections in 2012, under the Right to Reject provision, the voters were facilitated through the filing of Form-17 A, followed by a signature or thumb impression thereon to reject all candidates in a constituency if they were not found to be suitable. Now, for the civic body election this time we have introduced the button on the EVM for the voters to reject a candidate,” said Joshi.

Besides, instead of voting separately on two EVMs for the candidates for the posts of Mayor and councillor, a voter can register his choices on one EVM. “One EVM will have two options,” said Joshi.

Infighting to the fore ahead of MC poll

Despite only a week to go for polling in the crucial civic poll in the state, the ruling Congress finds itself in a state of complete chaos and inaction. With the burden of proving itself after the completion of one year of the Congress rule in the state during the civic poll, the ruling party has been in complete disarray with infighting and indiscipline coming to the fore.

During the first week of campaigning, it has come to light that Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna and the state Congress chief have completely lost control over the organisation. The entire Congress organisation is invisible as candidates are left to fend for themselves.

With factional fight between Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Union Water Resources Minister Harish Rawat and Pauri Garhwal MP Satpal Maharaj hotting up ahead of crucial civic poll, its effects on the working of the party organisation is bound to be reflected.

All three senior party leaders are involved in a war of words in the past fortnight. Except Haridwar and Almora where Union Minister Harish Rawat has personal stake, his party legislators and even ministers are seen working against the official party candidates fielded by the Vijay Bahuguna-Yashpal Arya combine.

The situation is particularly alarming for the ruling party in the capital city of Dehradun where the party has put up Suryakant Dhasmana, Congress vice-president as mayoral candidate, who is considered close to Vijay Bahuguna and Yashpal Arya.

This has led to complete disenchantment of the Harish group with the mayoral election. Interestingly, Congress chief Yashpal Arya has formed an election coordination committee headed by State Planning and Sports Minister Dinesh Aggarwal and other party leaders.

As far as the ground realities are concerned, most of these leaders of the coordination committee are sworn political opponents of Suryakant Dhasmana. At the ground level, these leaders have even forced their own candidates fighting in various city wards not to associate themselves with the mayoral candidate Suryakant Dhasmana in the election campaign.

Even his photographs are not being carried on their posters and banners. Due to lack of coordination and factional fights, the Congress campaign has been completely disjointed in the city. The Congress leaders are busy overtime in whispering campaign against their own mayoral candidate regarding a police firing incident during 1994 at his residence where a Uttarakhand agitator was killed.

Suryakant Dhasmana was recently exonerated by a CBI court in the incident. The Chief Minister and Yashpal Arya, who allotted the party ticket to Suryakant Dhasmana, have washed their hands off and are unable to persuade or pressure their own supporters to work wholeheartedly for the party candidates.

The situation is no different in the rival BJP camps where factional fights are also affecting the party candidate. The sitting Mayor and BJP candidate Vinod Chamoli is opposed by a powerful section of senior party leaders who did not want him to be repeated as party candidate.

These senior leaders are also adopting non-cooperative attitude towards Vinod Chamoli. However, being a better disciplined party and regimented cadres of the RSS working faithfully, the damage to the party mayoral candidate will be minimal since dissidents cannot go all out against the party nominee.

On the other hand, in the ruling Congress, senior party leaders, including ministers and party legislators, are spending their energies and resources in ensuring the defeat of the party nominees.

It will be seen that how both these major political parties manage their campaigning in the last week prior to April 28 polling. The civic poll is crucial for the state Congress government since it will be a referendum on the working of the state Congress government prior to the Lok Sabha poll of 2014. The party had lost the Tehri byelection held in October 2012, a seat vacated by Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna.

— SMA Kazmi

Tributes paid to Victoria Cross winner Gabbar Singh Negi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 21
The annual fair dedicated to the memory of Victoria Cross winner Gabbar Singh Negi started at his native place Chamba in Tehri Garhwal district today. The fair is organised annually on April 20 or 21 to pay tribute to Gabbar Singh who brought fame to Garhwal by winning Victoria Cross during the First World War in France. Brig Vinod Raiozada, Commandant of the Garhwal Regimental Centre, Lansdown, laid a wreath at the bust of Gabbar Singh while jawans of the 5th and 2nd Garhwal regiments gave the salute on the occasion.

A large number of villagers from far and near participated in the ceremony and the annual fair.

Gabbar Singh Negi was the second youngest Victoria Cross winner in the Indian Army, second only to Kamal Ram. He won it at the age of 22 while Kamal did so at 20.

Gabbar Singh was born in April, 1895, at Manjood village near Chamba in Tehri. He joined the 2/39 Battalion of the Garhwal Rifles in October 1913. He became a well-known figure after he won Victoria Cross during the First World War on March 10, 1915, at Nauve Chapelle in France. Reporting about his bravery, London Gazette of April 28, 1915, wrote, “During the British attack on a German position, he (Negi) was one of the bayonet parties with bombs which entered their main trench and was also the first man to go round each traverse, driving back the enemy until they were eventually forced to surrender. He was among the leading wave of the attack. He was killed in the engagement.” The members of Gabbar Singh’s family have been hosting the fair every year since 1925.