AMC declares ex-serviceman's widow dead, stops her pension
Parwinder Sandhu
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
Dehradun resident Sureshi Devi (70) is fighting a lone battle against the system that has not only declared her dead but also stopped the pension that she received as the widow of an ex-serviceman.

On the basis of a fake death certificate, the record office of the Army Medical Corps (AMC) has stopped her pension and asked the bank concerned to recover the excess grant released from the date of her “death”.

She was taken aback when the Majra branch of Punjab and Sind Bank, with which she has a pension account, informed her that the pension has been stopped by the AMC as she was "dead".

In a letter to the branch manager dated October 11, 2010, the AMC record office said: “Family pensioner Sureshi Devi is reported to have died on April 6, 1998, as per the death certificate issued on 16 February, 2010. Since the family pensioner has died, necessary action regarding the stoppage of the same and the recovery of the excess grant, if any, may please be taken at your end, if not taken so far to avoid any complication.”

Sureshi Devi was the second wife of Subedar Bhopal Singh who died in 1983. Being the legal nominee of the deceased, she had been drawing family pension since then. However, being declared dead, when she is very much alive, was just the beginning of the ordeal that Suresh Devi was to suffer.

On further probe, the bitter reality was unfolded. Shanti Devi, the wife of Kargil martyr Naik Devender Singh Rawat, following an altercation with Sureshi Devi, her mother-in-law, got a fake death certificate issued in her name. Producing the last rites slip of Shakuntla Devi, the first wife of Subedar Bhopal Singh, who died on April 6, 1998, Shanti managed to obtain the death certificate.

Later, the same fake death certificate was submitted to the AMC on the basis of which the pension was stopped by the Principal Controller, Defence Accounts (Pension).

In a complaint, Shanti Devi said her mother-in-law Sureshi Devi had died and some other lady was drawing family pension by posing herself as Sureshi Devi.

Shattered by the revelation, the widow started the battle for not only getting her identity back but also the money that rightfully belonged to her. “I approached the bank authorities again and wrote a letter to the AMC record office. However, despite confirmation given by the Zila Panchayat Raj Adhikari, bank officials and the Zila Sainik Welfare Office, the AMC record office is not ready to accept that I am alive and the same person who has been drawing the family pension for the past so many years,” said Sureshi Devi.

Following an enquiry conducted in September 2012, the Zila Panchayat Raj Adhikari had cancelled the death certificate after confirming that Sureshi Devi was alive and staying at the same address mentioned in the pension records available with the bank and the AMC.

On its behalf, the bank, in a letter written on October 4, 2010, to the AMC record, had stated: “As per the records transferred from the treasury office and as per the bank records available, we were paying the pension to the same person.”

Speaking to The Tribune, Lt Col Ganga Singh Rawat (retd), president of the Uttarakhand Poorva Sainik Evam Ardh Sainik Sangathan, said: “We have written a number of letters to the AMC, PCDA (P), and the Ministry of Defence in the past almost three years to take up the matter, but to no avail. Sureshi Devi has all the documents to prove that she is very much alive and the same person who was declared as the nominee by Subedar Bhopal Singh. It is very difficult for a widow to survive without any source of income.”

“In case the AMC does not release the pension in a few days, we will move proceed the High Court,” he said.

Little hope for regional parties in Lok Sabha elections
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
The people of Uttarakhand have always preferred the national parties to smaller regional parties. The electoral contests have primarily been between the two main national parties--BJP and Congress. The regional parties are fast losing their relevance and even the latest entrant, Aam Aadmi Party, which is banking on the local support, has a little chance of leaving a mark in the forthcoming elections.

Ever since it was carved out of Uttar Pradesh as a separate state more than a decade back after a long agitation, both BJP and Congress have formed the government in Uttarakhand. The regional parties have played a miniscule role in government formation except this time when the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) and the BSP are part of the regime.

After the BJP and the Congress, the BSP has somehow managed to sustain its presence in the plains of the state, particularly in Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts. The other key regional political party, the UKD has only one MLA in the 70-member state Assembly. The other parties like the Samajwadi Party (SP), the CPI and the CPI (M) and have very little presence in the state.

Barring the BSP that polled more than 15 per cent of the total votes cast in the Lok Sabha elections in 2009, all other regional parties failed to make an impact. The vote share of the UKD and the SP was just 1.23 per cent and 1.82 per cent, respectively.

These smaller parties are thus getting fast decimated, the UKD being the latest casualty of the politics of the BJP and the Congress. Once credited with the formation of Uttarakhand, the UKD today is fast losing its relevance. The UKD that had four legislators in the first Assembly election in 2002 has only one MLA in the present Assembly.

The UKD that rides on the regional aspirations of the hill people has come a long way. It was established in 1979 to spearhead a movement for the formation a separate state of Uttarakhand comprising hill regions of Kumaon and Garhwal from Uttar Pradesh. After a long struggle that reached its zenith in 1994, Uttarakhand finally became a reality in 2000. The struggle for the state saw the martyrdom of a number of people who faced continuous repression by the successive SP and BSP governments in Uttar Pradesh during those dark days.

But this party of the sons of the soil failed to encash on the statehood movement despite public sympathies. From four Assembly seats in 2002, its representation in the Assembly fell to two in the 2007 elections. It now has only one MLA, Pritam Singh Panwar, who represents the Yamunotri Assembly constituency of Uttarkashi district. The party is an alliance partner of the ruling Congress in the state and Panwar is a Cabinet minister.

The UKD did contest all five parliamentary seats in the general elections in 2009 but its decreasing popularity was amply reflected in the outcome. To make the matter worse for it, the UKD today is a divided house. The two factions of the party--UKD (Panwar) is led by its president Trivendra Singh Panwar while the other UKD (Airy) is headed by former MLA Kashi Singh Airy. Both factions have been indulging in mud-slinging against each other, thus losing the faith of the people.

The AAP, a recent entrant to Uttarakhand and the nation as well, wishes to repeat its success in the Delhi Assembly elections in the state as well. The party now nurtures national ambitions and views Uttarakhand positively. Almost all senior leaders of the AAP, Arvind Kejrival, Prashant Bhushan, Manish Sisodia and Prof Anand Kumar have toured Uttarakhand in the past and are taking the state very seriously. It got a shot in the arm with the Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha (URM) led by former Cabinet minister Lt Gen TPS Rawat (retd) merging with it.

The AAP has also been able to bring some credible names like Shamsher Singh Bisht, Rajeev Lochan Shah, Kamla Pant and Bali Singh Cheema into its fold. It has even announced Harish Arya as its candidate from the reserved Almora parliamentary constituency. But any major success for the party still looks distant. Prashant Bhushan, who was in Dehradun a few days ago, said the AAP would contest all five Lok Sabha seats in the state. He hoped to encash on the misdeeds of both BJP and Congress. “The only achievement of the BJP and the Congress in Uttarakhand has been change of chief ministers,” he said.

Another AAP leader Prof Anand Kumar said the party support base was growing fast, particularly among state agitators.

Political analysts believe the AAP will take over whatever little base the UKD is left with in the state. However, the UKD patron and one of senior-most party leader in the state BD Raturi said the people nurturing sentiments for the state are still with the party. “Those whose sentiments are with Uttarakhand are still with the UKD and only those who are in a habit of changing parties are joining other parties,” Raturi said referring to some agitators who joined the AAP recently. Raturi added the AAP would have little impact on the political scene in Uttarakhand.

On the other hand, BSP in charge of Uttarakhand Ramachal Rajbhar blames the Congress for the party’s debacle in the parliamentary elections in 2004 and 2009. He said the Congress had won over its candidates through wrong means in the last two Lok Sabha elections, affecting its (BSP) performance.

The third front has been a mirage in Uttarakhand like at the national political scene. Smaller parties like the CPI, the CPI (M), the CPI (ML), the Uttarakhand Janwadi Party and other groups have tried to form fronts time and again but ended up contesting against each other.

CS opens solar water lifting scheme at Tehri village
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
Chief Secretary Subhash Kumar today inaugurated a solar drinking water lifting scheme at Churendhar village in Tehri Garhwal. The scheme facilitates lifting water up after filtration to a vertical height of 186 m and covering a distance of 70 m from spring water sources using solely solar energy.

It is being implemented by the Himalayan Institute Hospital Trust (HIHT) in guidance of the Himmotthan Society and financially supported by the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) and the Nabajbai Ratan Tata Trust (NRTT).

The technical support for this project has been given by First Solar, USA. The Tata Solar Power has provided solar panels free of cost.

The scheme was inaugurated and handed over to the community by the Chief Secretary in the presence of BS Taraporewala, Secretary and Chief Accountant, Sir Ratan Tata Trust.

Addressing a gathering, the Chief Secretary stressed the use of renewable and clean energy to solve safe drinking water problem.

He said the scheme would motivate other villagers and civil society organisations to implement such a scheme that ensured sustainable solution of safe drinking water.

Vishnu Saran, Chief Functionary, HIHT, congratulated the village committee, members of the Himmotthan Society, First Solar, USA, Tata Power Solar and HIST for successfully implementing the scheme.

Over 300 women from 11 villages of the area, civil society organisations from Garhwal and Kumaon, Dr Malavika Chauhan, Executive Director, Himmotthan Society, District Magistrate, Tehri Garhwal, Yugal Kishor Pant and Dr BK Joshi, Chairman, Himmotthan, were present on the occasion.

LS poll: Political parties begin wooing defence personnel, ex-servicemen
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, March 7
Political parties have started focusing on the votes of ex-servicemen, retired personnel from Central forces and serving personnel in these forces as a sizable number of this category voters has a strong presence in Almora and Nainital parliamentary seats.

According to sources related to election officer in both the seats, the number of ex-servicemen voters in both seats is over 70,000 while service voters in both categories are also in thousands in both the seats. While Nainital seat has over 18,000 ex-servicemen voters, Almora seat is having 50,000 voters in this category,'' said Akshat Gupta, District Magistrate of Nainital.

While BJP is claiming to be the ''real friend'' of ex-servicemen and has a strong following due to the image of former Chief Minister Major General BC Khanduari (retd), the Congress Party wants to encash on the decision on “ one rank, one pension” recently given by the Central Government to servicemen and the facilities extended to ex-servicemen on exemption of stamp duty and house tax .

BJP claimed that all the welfare programmes being executed by the present Congress government at the Centre and at state are based on the decisions taken by BJP government at both levels. ''All the decisions on ex-servicemen's welfare, being claimed by Congress Party, were actually taken by the BJP government in the state the under guidance of its ex-Chief Minister General Khanduri,” said Prakash Pant, BJP general secretary in the state unit.

The Congress leaders claimed that besides decision on “one rank, one pension,” the state government has also constituted Ardh Sainik Kalyan Parishad which would take care of welfare activities of retired personnel from Central police forces. ''Out of one lakh retired personnel of Central police forces in the state, half of them are residing in Kumaon region,” said Mahendra Singh Lunthi, Congress leader of the region.

Overall, to lure the ex-servicemen voters, while Congress is banking on decisions taken by UPA government, BJP claims that it was Khundari , who during his tenure had began taking decisions on the issues relating to welfare of ex-servicemen.

Parmarth Niketan’s annual International Yoga Festival
People take pledge to keep water bodies pure, clean
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
People from 50 nations joined hands in a declaration that aimed at a cleaner, greener Ganga and all the water bodies of the world, during the ongoing Parmarth Niketan's annual International Yoga Festival. The declaration has been titled ''Ganga's Rights are Our Rights.''

Performing the Ganga yoga, a new form of yoga developed by American yogacharya Laura Plumb, hundreds of participants gathered on the riverbank. Explaining the technique Laura said: ''Ganga teaches us generosity of heart. She purifies our past, refreshes our soul, and carries us to the ocean of the heart. Through Ganga, we learn to be a river of love for the world."

Later, the attendees while holding flags representing their countries, pledged to protect the Ganga, their local rivers and all the water bodies of the world. Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji said: ''Yogis from around the world have come together today to declare that the river Ganga is a global treasure which should be kept in a clean, green, free-flowing state for all. Now is the time to plant trees, to stop polluting, to bring about a change.

The participants also got into the river to collect trash from the banks and the river. The declaration signed by the participants states: ''It is from the banks of the Ganga that the art and practice of yoga was born. Her waters have supported the growth of civilisations and have inspired poets, saints and sages. She is the lifeline for some 500 million people, as well as for countless species of plants and animals, some of which can be found in no other place else on this earth. We, as travellers to and within India, expect her waters to be clean and serene. We expect them to nourish us and to inspire us. Yet, we see rubbish mar her banks and lyrical flow. We learn of billions of litres of sewage and toxic chemicals that are permitted to foul her waters every day. In some places, we are startled to see that there is no Ganga at all, because her waters have been diverted or extracted to the point in which there is nothing left but dry rocks and parched dreams.''

Will Nishank be BJP's face from Haridwar?
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 7
With BJP expected to reveal the names of candidates for all five seats of Uttarakhand in the coming days, party activists as well as local voters are quite eager to know whether ex-Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank will be the party’s face from the prestigious Haridwar Lok Sabha seat.

Nishank’s name has been doing rounds for quite some time, which has now further got a major boost as Harish Rawat, sitting Haridwar Congress parliamentarian, has been made Chief Minister, making the road look easier to Parliament for the BJP leader.

If indirect indications from Nishank, who currently is legislator from Doiwala Assembly segment falling in Haridwar parliamentary constituency, are taken into account, then it is quite sure that he is ready to contest from this seat.

For the past few months, Nishank has been quite active in Haridwar, particularly in Roorkee, where he has mass base of party supporters.

Earlier this week he held a direct discussion with Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, students, where he gave answers to students' political queries. A few of the questions based on national issues and BJP’s vision were replied by Nishank ,saying that if the party comes to power and he is given responsibility in the Centre ,then under Modi he will try to focus on rural development and technology and will try to end economic disparity.

On March 2, Nishank met Vishwa Hindu Parishad ideologue and its former international president Ashok Singhal at a Kankhal based ashram secretly.

Both leaders had a discussion for 40 minutes in the presence of some saints, who as per ashram sources had given nod to Nishank as BJP candidate, instead of local three-time sitting legislator Madan Kaushik.

An ashram source on the condition of anonymity said that saints either want Uma Bharti to be named as BJP candidate from Haridwar or a saint candidate earlier, but Singhal made them understand that Nishank has also been working for saints' interests and to ensure Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister, it was imperative that saints understand political compulsions too.

Nishank told The Tribune during a brief stopover at the state guest house at Damkoti that it was not only for the past few weeks but he had been visiting Haridwar regularly for the past 22 years. He knew most of the party workers, leaders and even journalists by name in Haridwar. Hence, it was wrong to say that he was active in Haridwar with an eye on the Lok Sabha ticket.

Though the former BJP national vice president said that all depends on the party high command’s decision, “any responsibility they give to me will be abided by me as dedicated party worker.”

Another major contender for the party ticket Madan Kaushik has been not seen quite active this time as was seen during the last parliamentary election time.

Kaushik was given the party ticket in 2009 but his candidature was taken back by party high command as saints opposed his name, demanding a saint candidate from the saint-dominated Haridwar.

Then bowing to the seers' demand, Roorkee-based Maha Mandaleshwar Swami Yatindranand Giri was named as the party’s official candidate, who eventually lost to winner Harish Rawat by a margin of 1.25 lakh votes.

Former district BJP president Om Prakash Jamdagni, a close aide of Nishank, said that as party candidate had lost the last parliamentary election, it was Nishank who hasd the capability and mass appeal to regain this seat.

Senior party leader Ram Moorti Veer, opined that Nishank will easily win this time as Harish Rawat, current parliamentarian from Congress, has been made Chief Minister. Apart from Rawat, there is no other candidate from Congress who has mass appeal, while Nishank has the saints' blessings, youth energy and a good hold in rural regions of Roorkee, Lakshar, Mangalore, Khanpur, Landaura, Piran Kaliyar and hill population dominated Dharmapur, Doiwala and Rishikesh segments, where during his tenure he had carried out mass developmental projects.

If Nishank contests this time from Haridwar Lok Sabha, then it will be his maiden foray into parliamentary election, though he has been legislator from Karanprayag, Thailisain and Doiwala segments. Before becoming Uttarakhand Chief Minister, he served in various capacities as cultural, hill, health, finance portfolios in the state Cabinet in Uttarakhand and erstwhile Uttar Pradesh state government, too.

Left parties declare candidates for Pauri, Tehri constituencies
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
With a view to giving a tough fight to the Congress and the BJP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Left parties have already announced its candidates for the Pauri and Tehri constituencies. While Narendra Singh Negi would be the CPI candidate from Pauri, Shiv Prasad Devli would be the CPI (M) candidate from the Tehri constituency.

Addressing a press conference here, CPI (M) state secretary Vijay Rawat said the decision to field candidates in the remaining three constituencies would be taken in a few days. “Either we will announce our own candidates or support the candidates fielded by the Left parties,” he added.

“Owing to massive corruption and uncontrollable price hike, the Congress is bound to loose in every constituency across the country. The BJP is taking advantage of the entire situation and projecting itself as the only alternative to the grim situation. However, we need to remind these parties that the Left parties have emerged strongly,” he added.

Samar Bhandari, a member of the national committee, said for the past 13 years, both Congress and BJP had been in power. “Both parties are equally responsible for the deteriorating economic and social condition of the state, besides for corruption in all departments,” he added.

Bachiram Kanswal, Anant Akash, Dr Girdhar Pandit and Jeet Singh were also present in the conference.

Youth to vote for honest candidates
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
The final bugle for the 2014 general elections has been blown and every political party seems to be giving significance to the interests of the youth, as they are the largest voting force in the forthcoming elections and will decide its outcome. The Tribune spoke to a few college students to take stock of their expectations from the political class.

Speaking out

As a young Indian voter, jobs and the development of my area concern me the most. I will vote for the candidate and the party which will take steps to increase the number of jobs for youngsters. Information Technology (IT) parks must be set up here to absorb the young unemployed who are IT literate.

Piyush Kaushik college student

The issue of women’s security is very close to my heart and I expect the next government to take stern steps for ensuring a crime-free society where every woman lives safely and with confidence. I also demand that the political parties should rise above caste and religion and must give ticket to those candidates who want to serve society selflessly.

Monika college student

The political parties have ignored the cause of youngsters due to which there is widespread unemployment in the country. My vote will go to the political party which will create employment for the youth in both private and government sectors.

Ruchi college student

Corruption is the main issue in these elections and I hope that all the candidates having a clean image win the elections in the end and enter Parliament. I will vote after reviewing the track record of the candidate standing from my constituency, so that wrong people in the politics can be discouraged.

Ritesh college student

I will make sure that this time I vote for a candidate who is sincere and fulfills his/her promises later on, as generally politicians make lots of promises but never fulfil them after winning the elections.

Alisha Thomas college student

Young voters in Champawat demand jobs, security of women
Our correspondent

Pithotagarh, March 7
The young enthusiastic first time voters in Champawat district have decided to vote for those candidates who will get them employment and provide security to women. “Over 5,194 new voters between the age group of 18 and 19 years have been added to the voters’ strength in the district at present as the campaign to induct new voters continues in the district,” said Paritosh Varma, SDM of Lohaghat subdivision of the district.

In order to influence the new voters with their party agenda, the political parties namely, BJP, Congress and AAP have activated their cadres.

“We are going to the young voters with a message that it a chance for them to change the corrupt system pervailing in the country and Uttarakhand as well,” said Harish Arya, the AAP candidate from Almora seat.

The young voters are of a view that the wrong policies of the government had created unemployment in the country.

“We will vote for a party which will generate more employment opportunites in the country and reduce unemployment,” said a voter. “We will use the None Of The Above (NOTA) option if the candidate are not expected to work up to our expectations,” said Babita Joshi, a newly registered voter in the district.

Guv: ‘Yoga part of India’s great ancient heritage’
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi said today yoga was part of India’s great ancient heritage which has even been recognised by the West. The Governor was speaking as chief guest at the closing ceremony of the International Yoga Mahotsav at Muni ki Reti (Ganga resort) jointly organised by Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam and State Tourism Department.

He said yoga was not only related to the body but also to the mind and soul, purifying them and bringing peace to humanity and the world. He said yoga was a powerful tool to unite the world.

Qureshi said that in this era of science and technology, human beings were undergoing a lot of stress which can be reduced by yoga.He said yoga can change peoples’ lifestyle, bringing peace to their lives and reviving emotions.

Hundreds of yoga enthusiasts from all over the world participated in the yoga mahotsav.

Workshop on chiropractic ends
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
A two-day workshop on chiropractic conducted by Dr Jimmy Nanda, President of the Indian Association of Chiropractic Doctors, concluded at Sardar Bhagwan Singh Postgraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Research here today. Dr Nanda, who is a Canadian chiropractor of the Indian origin, runs 30 clinics in North America, Canada, England and India.

Dr Nanda told the students at the workshop about the proper channel to apply for education in chiropractic. He showed keen interest in forging collaboration between Sardar Bhagwan Singh Postgraduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Research, Dehradun, and Life Chiropractic College West to start the first doctorate programme in chiropractic.

Even students of the institute had a good experience hearing about the new avenues in the medical field from an expert in the field.

LS poll: Section 144 imposed in Dehradun
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
District Magistrate BVRC Purushottam has imposed Section 144 in the state capital to ensure peaceful atmosphere in the wake of the ensuing parliamentary elections. The DM said the gathering of more than five persons had been banned. “However, the ban does not cover, hospitals, the railway station, the bus station, government offices and educational institutions. No one will be allowed to hold any meeting without a written permission of the ADM or administrative officer. Speeches, the distribution of pamphlets and slogan raising, especially at public places, has also been banned,” he said.

“Besides those on government duty and baptised Sikhs, no one will be allowed to carry any weapon, flammable item or any other item, including sticks, that can be used in criminal activity,” said the DM.

The DM has also banned any construction within the 200 m radius of polling booths and the counting station.

Bahuguna meets Cong workers at Nainbagh
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, March 7
Former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna interacted with Congress workers during a brief halt at Nainbagh on his way to Barkot today. Bahuguna addressed the party workers and appealed to them to gear up for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections in order to ensure the party victory in all parliamentary seats.

Villagers from nearby areas told Bahuguna about the problems being faced by them since the natural calamity hit the state in June last year.

They complained to Bahuguna that they had not received any compensation for their watermills damaged during the natural disaster last year. Bahuguna directed the District Magistrate, Tehri, on the phone to resolve the problems of the villagers.

The former CM said the Congress workers should apprise the voters of the achievements of the state government and make efforts for the victory of the party candidate with a handsome margin in the Tehri constituency in the Lok Sbaha elections.

DVWM to start work from Monday

Dehradun, March 7
The Doon Valley Waste Management (DVWM) agreed to start work of door-to-door collection of garbage in 10 wards of the city. They will start their work from Monday. The company would be work on the previous terms and conditions based on the contract signed between the state government and the company.

The decision of starting the work was taken in the meeting convened here by District Magistrate and acting Mukhya Nagar Adhikari BVRC Purshottam. Giving the details of the proceedings, Additional Mukhya Nagar Adhikari Harshvardhan Mishra said: “It has been finalised in the meeting that the DVWM will start work in 10 wards. The rates would remain the same as were fixed initially. We will be paying them Rs 350 per metric tonne as the tipping fee.”

“The company would be bearing the expenses pertaining to maintenance and repair of vehicles and the salaries of the employees for the 10 wards chosen by them,” he added. — TNS

Doon University students continue boycott of classes
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
The students at Doon University continued to boycott the academic proceedings on the fourth day of the protest here today against the decision to change the university's name to Maharishi Valmiki University.

The students also met Chief Minister Harish Rawat at his residence and gave him a memorandum, demanding revocation of the decision to change the university's name. According to the students, the CM assured them that the name would not change if students do not agree with it.

Meanwhile, the students are demanding written assurance from the government side over the issue and till then they are planning to continue with their agitation. They also went to different locations all over Dehradun to conduct a signature campaign to garner more support for their cause.

''We met the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Govind Singh Kunjwal, on the issue and we are again going to meet the CM in the next couple of days to discuss our demand,'' said one of the students of Doon University.

Gujaratis, locals remember disaster victims at Har-ki-Pauri
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, March 7
People from Gujarat and locals paid tributes to the last year's mid-June disaster victims at the sanctum sanctorum of Brahamkund, Har-ki-Pauri, and adjacent Ganga ghats here last evening.

Nearly 2,000 Gujaratis, who are followers of Maha Mandaleshwar Shiv Premanand, Maharaj of Bhoopatwala-based Nijatam Dham ashram, had specially come to take part in the Ganga aarti last evening and pay homage to the disaster victims.

After lighting candles, they immersed earthen lamps in the Ganga and prayed for the peace of the departed souls and strength for their kin.

Sanjay Chopra, an activist of the Teerth Maryada Raksha Samiti, said these Gujaratis were visibly moved by the disaster and had specially come to pay tributes to the victims.

Gujaratis in large numbers come here every year to pay obeisance at the Char Dhams and take a holy dip at Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar. They also visit temples, including Mata Mansa Devi, Mata Chandi Devi, Daksh Prajapati, Bilkeshwar Mahadev temple, Maya Devi temple, Mata Vaishno Devi temple, Radhe Krishan temple and Tusli Manas temple.

AAP activists protest supply of poor quality water
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 7
The members of Aam Aadmi Party staged a protest demonstration regarding the poor quality of water being supplied in the DL road locality of the city. The demonstration was staged outside the office of Water Corporation in Dilaram Bazaar. Raising anti-government slogans, the protesters said that the high presence of total dissolved solids in the water is posing a lot of problems in the day-to-day functioning of the households.

''Owing to the dirty water being supplied in the area there is a high possibility of outbreak of a disease. The area residents are being forced to fulfil their requirement of water by collecting it from other localities,'' said the protesters, adding that they would be intensifying the stir.

Those part of the demonstration included Geetapal, Raju Singh, Priyanka Bahal, Puja Bhalla and Leela Gaur along with several others.