Cong factions try to present unity at Haridwar
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, February 22
Leaders close to Chief Minister Harish Rawat and former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna are claiming that there is unity in the party and it will win all five parliamentary seats in the state.

State Congress spokesperson Dhirendra Pratap told mediapersons here yesterday there was no factionalism in the party and "minor differences exist in every family. Hence much should not be made out of the recent change of Chief Minister."

Pratap said all party leaders and activists were now focusing on making the rally of Congress national vice president Rahul Gandhi in Dehradun a mega success.

"The state Congress has seasoned, experienced and mass base leaders like Harish Rawat, Vijay Bahuguna, Harak Singh Rawat, Indira Hridayesh, which the BJP lack. Earlier Vijay Bahuguna as Chief Minister carried out mass development works and now Harish Rawat was taking these works forward. During the natural disaster Bahuguna started rehabilitation works, which Harish Rawat was completing," said Pratap.

Secretary of the Pradesh Congress Committee Vijay Saraswati claimed that a large number of party activists and people from Haridwar district would be attending Rahul Gandhi's rally.

Thousands of people and party activists would attend the rally from Naintial, Almora, Pithoragarh, Bageshwar and Champawat districts in Kumaon division and the accommodation and food facilities would be provided to them in Haridwar.

"We have booked many dharamshalas and ashrams in the city for the party activists coming from the Kumaon region. Buses have been booked from neighbouring border districts of Uttar Pradesh as there is a shortage of buses in the state for the rally," said Saraswat.

Former Municipal Corporation chairman Satpal Brahamchari, a close aide of Harish Rawat, was also addressed the mediapersons, presenting unity in the party.

Brahamchari said the Congress-led government in the state was already way ahead in terms of implementation of development schemes and projects as compared to the previous BJP-led government which saw three Chief Ministers in just five years.

Rahul gandhi’s Doon rally
No vehicle to be allowed around Parade Ground
CM reviews arrangements at venue
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
The local administration has declared Parade Ground, the venue of the rally of Congress national vice-president Rahul Gandhi, as zero zone. No vehicle other than those of police and administration officials will be allowed in the area. The police have also announced traffic diversions for tomorrow.

Buses bound for Rajpur and Garhi Cantt will start from Orient Chowk instead of Parade Ground.

Buses plying between the Rajpur and Clement Town route will not be allowed to go towards Lansdowne Chowk and will be diverted towards Clock Tower from Darshan Lal Chowk.

Buses from Raipur will be not be allowed to move ahead of Survey Chowk.

Vikrams that start from Parade Ground will be diverted to other roads and those plying on the route numbers 3, 5 and 8 will not be allowed to go beyond Darshal Lal Chowk.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Harish Rawat today reviewed arrangements for the rally at Parade Ground.

Harish Rawat accompanied by co-in charge of the party affairs in Uttarakhand Sanjay Kapoor visited Parade Ground in the afternoon. They inspected the podium and seating arrangements.

Former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s son Saket Bahuguna and MLA Anshuya Prasad Maikhuri were also present

Party leaders in Dehradun continued with the door-to-door canvassing for mobilising support for the rally.

Congress Dehradun mahanagar leader Vineet Tyagi and party workers visited various localities to invite the people to the rally. Congress Sewa Dal members have been directed to remain present at Congress Bhavan at 9 am tomorrow.

Pithoragarh: Nearly 10,000 Congress workers from the Kumaon region are expected to attend Rahul Gandhi’s rally.

“We have resolved to make the rally a success,” said Manohar Singh Tolia, a party worker and former Zila Panchayat member from Munsiyari.

AICC member from Champawat Nirmala Gahtoli said the local party unit was mobilising more party workers from the rural areas for the rally.

“Congress workers in large numbers from Champawat, Lohaghat, Barakot Pati, Tanakpur, Banbasa and other rural areas have shown interest in attending the rally and making it a success," said Nirmala Gahtoli.

Pithoragarh party unit chief Mahendra Singh Lunthi said nearly 800 buses had been arranged to ferry party workers from Rudrapur, Nainital, Almora and Champawat.

MUSSOORIE: Youth Congress workers from Mussoorie are making all efforts to make the rally of vice-president Rahul Gandhi in Dehradun tomorrow a success. Mussoorie Youth Congress president Anuj Gupta at a meeting here appealed to all party workers, especially the youth, to reach the rally venue in large numbers. Gupta said Rahul Gandhi was their first choice as the prime ministerial candidate.

5 IPS officers transferred
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
In a minor reshuffle, the state government transferred five IPS officers yesterday.

SSP, Haridwar, Rajeev Swaroop was transferred to the Home Department as Additional Secretary while SSP, Nainital, Sadanand Shankar Rao Date will be the new SSP, Haridwar. Vimmi Sachdeva, Additional Secretary in the Home Department, was transferred as the SSP, Nainital. Anant Shankar Takwale, SP, Bageshwar, was transferred to the police headquarters as SP (Karmik), police headquarters, while NS Napalchyal was shifted to Bageshwar as SP.

Its worth noting that Rajeev Swaroop has been under fire for allegedly mishandling the case of a brawl between lawyers and villagers in Haridwar. The Bar Council of Uttarakhand has been demanding his transfer following the registration of cases against a few lawyers in Haridwar.

Maikhuri is CPI (ML) candidate from Pauri Garhwal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
The CPI (ML) has named Indresh Maikhuri as its candidate from the Pauri Garhwal parliamentary constituency for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a press conference, state secretary of the party Rajendra Pratholi said while the Congress would suffer a major defeat in the elections owing to its ''corrupt policies,'' BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi was ''a favourite of corporate tycoons.''

Pratholi said Maikhuri was a hard worker and much ahead of his contemporaries as far as taking up the cause of the common man is concerned.

Spring festival opens at Raj Bhavan
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
Despite overnight rain, Governor Aziz Qureshi inaugurated the two-day annual spring festival 2014 at Raj Bhavan here today.

The space on the one side of the green lawn overlooking Raj Bhavan was occupied by different varieties of flowers. As usual the pride of Uttarkhand gaily coloured gerberas, though reduced in size, were stole the show, followed by bright roses and exotic lilies. Separate stalls were set for potted plants, cut flowers, flower arrangements and Bonsai plants put up by floriculturists and hobbyists.

A regular at the spring festival, Balbir Kamboj from Nainital, whose gerberas, carnations, roses and lilium have been winning prizes every year, said the climate in Nainital and adjoining areas was conducive for floriculture. Though famous floriculturist from Nainital Sudhir Chhada could not make it to the festival, his dark maroon coloured calla lilies (zantedeschia) did register their presence.

While different varieties of flowers managed to cast their spell, a heroic display of karate by the 24 black belt ITBP men from the Mussoories ITBP Academy enthralled the audience. Constable Rohit showed his mastery while lying on a bed of nails, all pointing outwards.

A silver medallist at an international tournament in Malaysia Havildar Anand Singh and bronze medal winner Havaldar Surya Rathore displayed several techniques that are used by the American police.

Six killed as car falls into ditch
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
Six persons were killed when the car they were travelling in fell into a ditch in Darkanda village in Pauri last evening.

The car driver was trying to negotiate a turn on a hilly road when the accident took place.

The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has expressed grief over the loss of lives in the accident. He has directed the administration to enquire into the reasons behind the mishap.

The Chief Minister has also ordered the release of financial aid to next of kin of the deceased.

SITs to ensure quality in construction works
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
The Congress-led state government has decided to constitute two special investigative teams (SITs), one each for Kumaon and Garhwal divisions, to ensure quality in its construction works.

The SITs formed under the supervision of the Director, Vigilance Directorate, can take strict action in cases of reported irregularities and bad quality of construction works.

Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar said the SITs would be set up at the Vigilance sector offices of Dehradun and Haldwani and the sector SPs would be the in charge of the SITs.

The teams, through the Vigilance Department, will provide confidential reports on various construction works to the government. On receiving further information from the government, the SIT in charge will form necessary teams and undertake surprise inspections and sampling and a final report, via the Director, Vigilance, will be sent to the government.

On finding irregularities, those public servants and persons found prima facie guilty will be prosecuted under the Anti Corruption Law and other laws. Disciplinary action, if necessary, will also be recommended against the erring public servants.

Science expo
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, February 22
A science, art and craft exhibition was organised at Shalini School, Beverly Hills here today. Various informative models, charts and innovative projects were prepared by the exuberant learners.

Experiments such as rarer floats, denser sinks and transpiration and exhibited art and craftwork like spinning in spring and bottle butterflies were explained through models.

St Thomas lift cricket title

Dehradun, February 22
St Thomas College won the Sub-Junior Inter-School Cricket Tournament after defeating St Joseph's Academy by 4 wickets in the final match here today.

After winning the toss, St Joseph's Academy elected to bat first and made 92 runs in 20 overs. Prajwal remained the highest scorer with 33 runs whereas Ishagra and Swarnim made 19 and 16 runs, respectively. For St Thomas College, Eklavya took 3 wickets.

In reply, St Thomas College achieved the target with 4 wickets in hand and more than 3 overs still spare. — TNS