IndiaVotes 2014
Rawat, Bahuguna lock horns on nominations for their next of kin
Further delay in announcement of party ticket for LS seats
SMA Kazmi
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
Chief Minister Harish Rawat and former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna have locked horns on the nominations of their kin in the coming Lok Sabha elections. It has resulted in further delay in the announcement of the party ticket for the five Lok Sabha seats in the the state.

Harish Rawat who had gone to New Delhi to get the list of the party candidates finalised after consultation with the party high command returned to Dehradun last evening empty-handed following a rift between the two leaders on fielding their next of kin in the elections.

While the BJP had announced its candidates last month and their party candidates had covered a lot of ground in campaigning in their respective constituencies, Uttarakhand Congress leaders are still slugging it out to reach a consensus on candidates.

According to party sources, the names of two sitting MPs, Pardeep Tamta from Almora (reserve) and KC Singh Baba from Nainital, have been finalied. After the defection of Satpal Maharaj to the BJP, the Congress has reportedly decided to field another former Army General to take on BJP candidate BC Khanduri from the Pauri Garhwal seat. The name of Lt Gen Gambhir Singh Negi (retd) , a former Commandant of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), who was also a former chairman of the State Public Service Commission, has been finalised from the Pauri Garhwal seat.

However, the tussle between Harish Rawat and Vijay Bahuguna over fielding their kin has delayed the announcements of the names on all five seats. According to party sources, Harish Rawat wanted former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna to contest from the Tehri Garhwal seat. But Vijay Bahuguna is not keen to contest but wants his son Saket Bahuguna to be fielded. Saket Bahuguna had contested the 2012 Tehri Garhwal byelection after his father quit on his elevation as Chief Minister after the Assembly polls of Januray 2012. Saket Bahuguna lost the elections to Mala Raj Luxmi Shah of BJP.

While the party high command has also reportedly put pressure on Vijay Bahuguna to contest, he has remained adamant on his demand.

Meanwhile, the party also started considering other names from the seat. On the other hand,

Harish Rawat is keen to field his wife Renuka Rawat from Haridwar seat represented by him.

This was resented by Vijay Bahuguna, who reportedly argued that since his son is not being given the ticket, so on the same analogy, the kith or kin of Chief Minister Harish Rawat should also not be considered.

This has created a piquant situation for the party leadership and delayed the announcement of all five seats.

In case the party decides to ignore the kith or kin of both these leaders, then other senior leaders from these constituencies could be named. From Haridwar seat, already the names of Ambrish Kumar, a former legislator who recently re-joined Congress, and Chaudhary Rajinder Singh could be considered. The names of Congress legislator from Vikasnagar Navprabhat and former Tehri legislator Kishore Updhaya are also in the reckoning.

It was believed that if both these leaders reach an understanding, then Saket Bahuguna from Tehri Garhwal and Renuka Rawat from Haridwar will be declared as party candidates.

Left parties losing strength
Jotirmay Thapliyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
Once credited of fuelling people’s uprising against Garhwal’s royalty, the Left parties in Uttarakhand today faced a formidable challenge, protecting its electoral relevance in the hill state, where its total polled votes percentage has touched less than 1 per cent in the last two parliamentary elections.

The Left party and Uttarakhand share a long history. Home to PC Joshi, the first general secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in the country, Uttarakhand had been under the influence of Left even during the pre-independence days.

The Left connected with Uttarakhand region and it could be gauged from the fact that the Left personalities were instrumental in making the people of Tehri stand against the tyrannical Tehri royalty.

Further, the hero of famous 1930 Peshwar incident, Garhwal Rifles Army man Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali, who disobeyed the British order to fire on Pathans during the freedom movement, subsequently became an active member of the Left and contested Lok Sabha elections twice on CPI ticket from Garhwal Lok Sabha. Though he lost, but he gave a formidable opposition to Congress MP Bhaktdarshan.

Starting from PC Joshi and Veer Chandra Singh Saklani, the late Left party leaders like Nagendra Saklani, Molu Bhardari, Govind Singh Negi and Vidhysagar Nautiyal always stood for the cause of a common man in Uttarakhand region.

The Left also had an electoral success from Tehri region. But, the Left party failed to give an MP to the Lok Sabha from Uttarakhand. It had MLAs in the then Uttar Pradesh Assembly from the region.

Govind Singh Negi was elected as the MLA from Tehri Assembly on two occasions and Vidhysagar Nautiyal was elected rom Deoprayag Assembly constituency only once.

As far as the general elections are concerned, in 1977 general elections, the CPI polled 11.08 of the total polled votes in Tehri constituency. In 1980 Lok Sabha elections, CPI’s Vidhysagar Nautiyal polled a commendable 26.53 per cent of the total polled votes and stood second in Tehri Parliamentary constituency. In 1989, CPI’s Kamla Ram Nautiyal polled 86,000 votes, which was 20.04 per cent of the total votes polled in Tehri constituency and stood runners up.

With the passage of time, the Left parties were on the decline. In 1999, CPI’s Vidhysagar Nautiyal again contested from Tehri Lok Sabha seat and polled just 16,631 votes that were 3.44 per cent of the total votes polled in the constituency.

The downslide could not be checked as in 2004 general elections the CPI and the CPI (M) entered into alliance and contested for Tehri and Pauri Lok Sabha seat. The CPI (ML) on the other hand contested from Almora, Nainital and Pauri Lok Sabha seats.

The Left parties in total could muster a total of 26,363 votes in the state. CPI (ML) Sushma, who contested for Almora-Pithrogarh seat got 5,410 votes, Lalita Prasad Bhatt form CPI, who contested for Pauri Garhwal seat bagged 7,633 votes and Indresh Maikhuri from CPI (ML) got 5,962 votes in Pauri Garhwal seat.

Even in the Assembly elections, the Left parties fared badly. After the formation of the state, the CPI in 2002, 2007 and 2012 Assembly elections, bagged 0.84 per cent, 0.23 per cent and 0.21 per cent votes respectively.

Similarly, the CPI (M) bagged 0.30, 0.25 and 0.27 votes in 2002, 2007 and 2012 Assembly elections respectively. The Left parties bagged less than 1 per cent vote in both 2004 and 2009 parliamentary elections, amply revealing its electoral decline in Uttarakhand.

Bleak future?

Left parties in Uttarakhand today face a formidable challenge in protecting their electoral relevance in the hill state, where their total polled votes percentage has touched less than 1 in the last two parliamentary elections.

Almora residents want right to recall inactive MPs
BD Kasniyal

Ajay Tamta, BJP candidate from Almora (reserve), campaign in Almora on Friday. Photo: Naveen Bisht

Pithoragarh April 4
Residents of Almora town are in favour of a constitutional amendment to give voters the right to recall an MP if he fails to come up to their expectations. This correspondent asked Almora town residents about their views on the qualities an MP should possess to get their votes. They said there had been political degradation in the last decade as public representatives had failed to come up to the expectations of the voters. “If a constitutional amendment gives the people the right to recall an inactive public representative, the latter would be under constant pressure to fulfil the promises made to the voters and resolve their issues,” said PC Joshi, veteran journalist in Almora town.

Some eminent residents said the MP should not only have the knowledge of local issues and priorities but also of matters of contemporary international significance. “He should have the capacity to work for the welfare of local people keeping the national and international trends in mind,” said Prakash Joshi, former chairman of the Almora Nagar Palika Parishad.

Sunita Pandey, a leading advocate of the town, said the MP should be broadminded and have the ability to understand the problems of women in his or her constituency. “The MP should think and act above the caste, religion and regional lines. He should be able to understand and resolve the problems of all voters,” said Sunita.

Chandra Singh Bankoti, retired principal of a government college, said the MP should advocate standardization of the education system as varied systems were creating confusion in society. “The MP should also continuously try for qualitative changes in the government education system so that poor people could also provide good education to their wards,” said Bankoti.

Some residents of Almora town said the MPLAD funds should be scrapped and instead money should be spent carefully for building public infrastructure. “The MP should also be able to provide employment opportunities to the youths in his constituency.” said Nirmala Chauhan, another advocate.

CPI (M) candidate: Cong, BJP two sides of the same coin
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
Terming Congress and BJP to be two sides of the same coin, Shiv Prasad Devli, the Tehri Lok Sabha candidate of Communist Party of India (M) said that the parties have always safeguarded the interests of corporate houses and business tycoons.

Addressing a public rally at Sahaspur, Devli said that claims being made by both the parties as representatives of the common man are completely false. ''For favouring the corporate houses and business tycoons, the BJP and Congress have developed such policies that are destructive for the common man. The policies that were introduced by the BJP during their tenure, 10 years ago have been adopted by the Congress in their regime,'' he added.

''In Uttarakhand, BJP should not be an option for Congress. It is very important for the people to understand that both the parties are in the same boat. Therefore, the voters should favour third option, which is CPI (M). From the past 35 years the party has always remained with the people and toiled hard to implement the people-friendly policies,'' added Devli.

Those who were part of the gathering included Kammruddin, Udhav Baluni, Yassen and Saffuddin along with several others.

Almora candidate Ajay Tamta sure of BJP's victory this time
Our Correspondent

Pithoragarh, April 4
BJP candidate from Almora (reserve) Ajay Tamta today held a roadshow at the Chaukhutia, Someshwar and Bhatrochkhan markets. Ajay Tamta, who has been campaigning since March 17, has covered most of the areas. He will be visiting the remaining areas, including Gangolihat Ganai, Berinag, Munsiyari and Dharchula towns and the adjoining villages, from April 5 to 8 and the Jageshwar Assembly constituency on April 10.

Addressing a gathering at the Someshwar market, the BJP candidate urged people to give him another chance to serve them in a better way. He said the country would have to get rid of the corrupt practices of the Congress.

Ajay Tamta said during his campaigning in the past few days, he came across several people who were repenting giving mandate to the Congress candidate last time. The BJP candidate said this time he was sure of his historical victory.

He further said people were not satisfied with the working of Congress MP Pradeep Tamta and also complained that the MP was never available whenever his services were required. The election campaign of Ajay Tamta officially started last week when the BJP named him the candidate from the Almora seat. On the other hand, the Congress is yet to announce its candidate. “It's strange that how the Congress that is yet to announce its candidate will manage its campaign,” said Ajay Tamta.

Earlier, during his campaign at the Syaldey market yesterday, where Ajay Tamta was accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in state Assembly Ajay Bhatt, the latter said the Congress was perplexed as many of its senior leaders were shifting loyalties to the BJP. “This clearly indicates that the BJP will come to power at the Centre this time, " added the BJP candidate.

Manorma seeks Cong ticket from Tehri
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
With the Congress yet to finalise the names of its Lok Sabha candidates for the five seats in the state, supporters of various leaders are pressurising the high command of giving them an opportunity. The latest leader to join the bandwagon is Manorma Dobryal Sharma, a senior Congress leader and former Mayor.

In a press note issued here, the former state president of Mahila Congress said her supporters were sending fax and letters to party president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi, seeking her nomination from the Tehri Lok Sabha constituency.

“A large number of requests have also been forwarded to Chief Minister Harish Rawat and state president Yashpal Arya,” added Sharma.

Archana Puran Singh campaigns for AAP candidate Nautiyal
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
Continuing with its door-to-door campaigning in support of Aam Admi Party, Tehri Lok Sabha seat candidate Anoop Nautiyal, cine star Archana Puran Singh today went for canvassing in the busy Paltan market area of Dehradun.

Leading the AAP workers, Archana Puran Singh, a resident of Doon, appealed Paltan market shopkeepers to support AAP in the Lok Sabha elections. She asserted that Dehradun being a literate city, the voters in Dehradun were mature and would certainly vote of AAP that has promised a corruption free governance. She said both BJP and Congress have only cheated the people of the country.

Later, Archana Puran Singh also conducted door-to-door canvassing in the nearby dispensary road, Rama makret, Dhamawala, Hanuman Chowk and Sabzi Mandi areas. AAP workers also rented the air with slogans ''Kejriwal lao desh bachao (Bring Kejriwal, save nation).

AAP Tehri Lok Sabha seat candidate Anoop Nautiyal assured to work for betterment of the region with sincerity if elected. Large number of shopkeepers turned up to greet Archana Puran Singh and Anoop Nautiyal.

Kamal Devrari, Sunita Singh, Omkar Bhatia and Ganesh Prasad Kala were some of the prominent AAP workers who participated in the canvassing.

Husband’s past catches up with SP candidate
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 4
The road for Samajwadi Party candidate from the Haridwar parliamentary constituency Anita Saini does not seem to be a smooth one. Initially, she faced opposition from Haridwar unit party leaders and workers, who termed her a novice and forced candidate. Now, Opposition parties are targeting her, owing to her husband serving life imprisonment for murdering a villager along with his brother and a relative.

Jitendra Saini, who was till recently a BJP worker and district cooperative society chairperson of the Roorkee block, is currently on bail granted by the Supreme Court. The murder case was registered in early 90s, when Jitendra was in college and in a property dispute was charged for murder along with his brother and a relative.

Anita said as her husband had been granted bail in the case and they had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, no one could label him as a murderer till the apex court’s final decision comes.

“Jitendraji has been working for BJP for the past 30 years and served in various capacities in the party cadre and also as chairperson of cooperative society. His role has been instrumental in making me three time village head from Mohammedpur Panda and also as chairperson of Cooperative Society of Roorkee block. He is quite popular among local people and that’s why Mulayam Singh Yadav ji gave me ticket to contest from the prestigious Haridwar seat,” Anita told The Tribune.

Anita seemed confident of replicating the party’s feat in the 14th Lok Sabha election when party candidate Rajendra Badi won from Haridwar Lok Sabha seat.

“I have been village head thrice and BJP Mahila Morcha secretary also. I belong to the Saini community, which has a sizeable presence in the constituency. The party’s traditional vote of minority and Dalits is also there. Hence I am confident of victory,” said Anita.

SP city president Sonal Prince, who initially objected to Anita Saini’s candidature, said that as its decision of party high command so all the party workers will have to abide with this decision.

Sonal made it clear that the candidate could still be changed as a section of party leaders were in touch with Uttarakhand party president Satya Narayan Sachan and national general secretary Prof Ram Gopal Verma.

The BJP, the AAP, the Congress and the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal have started raising the issue.

BJP district president Kuldeep Gupta said those who speak of following the Samajwad ideology have been exposed as they have allotted the ticket on just basis of money funding.

Gupta said Anita was just a puppet while all his work was done by her husband who was known for money and muscle power in Roorkee.

Aam Aadmi Party district coordinator JP Baduni said that only their candidate Kanchan Roy Bhattacharya is a clean one among all the declared candidates so far from Haridwar constituency.

Migration from hills major poll issue for UKD (Aeri) group
Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, April 4
Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (Aeri) group will make migration from hills and unemployment as major issues during the Lok Sabha polls in the state. Jaiprakash Upadhyaya, the Lok Sabha candidate from Tehri UKD (Aeri) group, said this while speaking to media persons in Mussoorie today.

Upadhyaya, lambasting both the national parties Congress and BJP, said that the politicians from these two parties had failed the people of the state with their anti-people policies.

He further said that both parties in the name of development have misled the people and have resorted to selling the resources of the state in connivance with the land and forest mafia.

“The aspirations of the people who agitated for the separate state have not been met since its inception and both BJP and Congress are solely responsible for it,'' said Upadhyaya.

He also said that the condition of the region that suffered during the natural disaster of last year is still critical but both BJP and Congress are resorting to unnecessary bickering on the issue. Upadhyaya, outlining his objectives if elected by the people from Tehri Lok Sabha said that he would primarily work towards ensuring that the people receive their due share of electricity and water, which is being sold to the private companies by the two national parties in the state.

The patron of the party BD Raturi speaking on the occasion said that UKD(Aeri) will field its candidate from all five Lok Sabha seats in the state while the name for other two seats will be announced soon.

He also said that the party would emerge as an effective alternative to both Congress and BJP and work in accordance with the aspirations of the people of the state for which it was formed in first place.

When questioned about the infighting among various factions in UKD Raturi said that the efforts were on to remove all those people who have been instrumental in the disintegration of the party and bring all factions under one banner and contest election as a unified force in the forthcoming elections.

UKD(Aeri)coordinator Nathilal Semwal, co-cordinator Dharmendar Kathait,Ramkishan Jugran, Sahdev Bisht,Asha Sharma and others on the occasion.

While the UKD (Aeri) group was busy addressing at the press conference, being held at Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam restaurant in Mussoorie, the Election Commission officials reached the spot and served notice to the leaders for violating the model code of conduct by calling a political meeting in government property.

Nayab Thesildar who had arrived at the spot with a police force said that the political leaders were found with garlands used for political activities in their possession forcing them to take action in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the Election Commission.

The UKD leaders who said that they were here for a sip of coffee and snacks resented the claims of the officials vehemently. Jaiprakash Upadhyaya, the Lok Sabha candidate from Tehri, said it was no crime to have a cup of coffee in the government restaurant and if that too was not permissible then such government restaurants should be closed during the elections. He also said that the party would give an adequate reply once it receives the notice from the EC. He termed the whole incident as conspiracy of BJP and Congress.

Shooting for Ruskin Bond story ‘Ek Tha Rusty II’ begins
Tribune News Service

Actor Ayub Khan gets ready for his role in ‘Ek Tha Rusty II’ television serial being shot at Mussoorie on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Mussoorie, April 4
For those who want little bit more of Ruskin Bond, eminent author from Mussoorie, there is good news, as the shooting for another season of the story titled “Ek Tha Rusty II'' began in Mussoorie today.

The story by Ruskin Bond is adapted for a TV serial being completely shot in the locales of Mussoorie. ''Ek Tha Rusty II'' is being shot for DD National and the new series is designed to bring the simple and impressive storyteller Ruskin Bond into the homes of his viewers in an interesting series, much to the delight of the avid readers stretching across three generations.

Directed and scripted by Shubhdarshini Singh and based on Ruskin Bond's stories, ''Ek Tha Rusty II'' is a continuation of season I where Rusty has moved onto the late sixties.

Ruskin Bond's novellas and short stories like ''The Sensualist; Hanging at the Mountain Top'' and ''Time stops at Shamli'' have been brought to life by Bhanu Uday who plays the lead role as Rusty and Inspector Keemat Lal by Ayub Khan who shows his amazing flair for comedy, a talent untapped.

This new season with fresh stories, fresh faces and lots of excitement, murders, serial killers, heartbreak and a surprise ending to season 2 is a must-watch, said director Subdharshini Singh.

She further said that the series is different from others as it is the only series in Indian television with male dominated characters and this period drama is a humble attempt to bring to life the author’s life in the late 60s to the silver screen.

Subdharshini Singh also informed the media persons that that the series shot on outdoor locations in Mussoorie and the hills of Garhwal, forms the background of most of the stories with the unit setting up camp for the next 4 weeks in the hill station's old bungalows and hotels.

However, aggrieved with the old heritage buildings giving way for new but less attractive structures in the town, she said that the efforts should be encouraged towards keeping the old look of the buildings intact, so that it becomes unique selling point for the tourists and filmmakers arriving in the town.

“Although it was difficult but I have tried to stick to the storyline as written by the great Ruskin Bond while adapting it for the television,” said Subdharshini Singh.

Ayub Khan, playing the character of Keemat Lal, an inspector who has big dreams about himself, said that he was delighted to be attached with the series from the past 14 years. Shooting in Mussoorie is always a memorable experience and he looks forward to visiting the town whenever possible.

Speaking about the series, he said that it is a great opportunity for those who have not read Ruskin Bond to watch his stories on television screen.

Newly set up city patrol units get applause from Doonites
Erring cops also not spared
Tribune News Service

City patrol unit in action at Clock Tower in Dehradun on Friday. A Tribune photograph

In the first stage, the CPU is being constituted in Dehradun and later it will be introduced in Haridwar, Nainital and Udhamsingh Nagar as well. The handpicked personnel were given two months long training at Dehradun police lines.

No check on wrong parking in Har-ki-Pauri area
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 4
Wrong parking adjacent to the Har-ki-Pauri police post is posing problems to commuters as well as pilgrims. Despite repeated complaints by the victims, the police and the administration have failed to take any steps in this regard. The sanctum sanctorum of Brahamkund, Har-ki-Pauri, is visited by a large number of devotees on a daily basis. The rush is even more on festivals when pilgrims come to have a holy dip and perform rituals at the site.

In the absence of any check, two-wheelers and four-wheelers could be seen parked in the zero parking area. Although the authorities claimed to have imposed strict traffic restrictions in the core mela zone, they seem to be only on paper.

Several social and religious organisations have also taken up the issue with the SSP, the District Magistrate, the Mukhya Nagar Adhikari and Ganga Sabha office-bearers on several occasions, but in vain.

Har-ki-Pauri police in charge Mohan Singh admitted that parking was not allowed in the area. Only police vehicles were allowed.

However, due to pressure from local traders in the absence of any authorised parking lot in the Upper Bazaar side, people park their vehicles near the police post building.

SP, City, Surjeet Singh Pawar said since that the matter had been brought to his notice, he would discuss the same with the officials concerned and take steps to ensure that no devotee or commuter faced inconvenience due to haphazard parking.

8 armed men commit dacoity, leaving two seriously injured
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
Around eight armed men broke into a house at SelaQui area in the Sahaspur police station on Thursday midnight and committed a dacoity, leaving two family members injured in the incident. The complainant, Seeta Devi, has told police that there were three family members and one tenant inside the house and everyone was fast asleep when unidentified men entered the house after breaking the door locks by stones. They allegedly started beating up everyone inside and asked the family members to hand over the cash and jewellery to them.

Reportedly, after getting impatient, the dacoits started beating Seeta Devi's daughter Neetu Badoni and tenant Deva who got seriously injured and are undergoing treatment in Doon Hospital at present. They took away Rs 55,000 cash along with jewellery worth lakhs from the house and managed to escape before the police reached there.

According to the police, the house of Seeta Devi is located at a secluded place and the dacoits took advantage of that and entered it during the night hours. Senior police officials like SSP Ajay Rautela and SP Rural, Manikant Mishra, reached the house for investigations.

''The incident looks to be the act of notorious Bawariya gang from Uttar Pradesh and we are investigating the case from all possible angles and we are hopeful that the culprits would be nabbed soon,'' Manikant Mishra told The Tribune.

DSU students win accolades
Tribune News Service

Students, who recently performed well in the inter-state technology competition, show their certificates at Dev Sanskrit University in Haridwar on Friday. A Tribune photograph

Haridwar, April 4
Dev Sanskriti University students Mann Singh and Kanupriya Rawat won accolades in the just concluded Tech Spark -2014 held at JP Institute of Engineering and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Bsc Ist year student Manan Singh won second prize in the national technical fest C programming event while fellow university compatriot Kanupriya Rawat of B.Sc IInd year won second prize in the poster presentation event.

More than a dozen-odd top engineering institutions from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand participated in the competition. Both the students on their arrival today were felicitated by the university Pro Vice Chancellor at his office.

Dr Chinmay Pandya said that in a short span of time since computer department was created in Dev Sanskriti University, students have been excelling in this, too, fetching laurels both for them and the university in various events held across the country.

Lauding the teaching faculty, too,Dr Pandya said that both students and teachers compliment each other and DSU had a legacy of adhering to ancient Vedic-Gurukul mode type of education, which is its strength.

Head of department of computer of DSU Dr Abhay Saxena said that latest advancements in the field of computer technology are being incorporated by the department so that our students match with the best in the country.

Department professors Rajeshwari Dwivedi and Piyush Trivedi also expressed happiness over the duo's feat.

HC rejects review petition on trees
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
In a major decision, a two-member bench of Nainital High Court headed by the Chief Justice Barin Ghosh today rejected a review petition filed by Uttarakhand Principal Chief Conservator of Forests against the HC order of Sept 3 that directed for transplantation of trees in Dehradun.

Ruling on a petition filed by Citizens For Green Doon (CFGD), the High Court had ordered that the Government Order dated May 21, 2010, which calls for transplanting of all trees which can be transplanted, be implemented strictly and that any felling of trees will be taken as contempt of court.

Chief Coordinator of CFGD, Dr Nitin Pandey, reacting to the judgment said that even after the court's earlier order, the Dehradun District Administration continued to fell trees which can easily be transplanted and the group intended to file a contempt petition very soon in the matter.

He said that over a dozen trees in Ballupur chowk have been felled which could have easily been transplanted and the group had photographs and details of the trees which would soon be filed in the court.

DIT sports meet starts today
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
The inter-university sports meet ‘Sphurti-2014’, will begin on Saturday. The sports meet was being organised by Dehradun Institute of Technology (DIT). Lt General OP Kaushik (retd), former Vice-Chancellor of Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, will be the chief guest in the opening ceremony.

Prof Krishna Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of DIT, said more than 25 universities and colleges were participating in the mega sports event.

“The total number of participants is expected to be around 900. More than 700 boys and 200 girls are participating in various competitive events,” he said.

The sports meet includes cricket, badminton, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and football. Cricket will be organised at Maharana Pratap Sports College, Abhimanyu Cricket Academy and Kasiga School in which 16 team were participating.

Badminton matches will be held at Multi Sports Facility Centre at Parade Ground and more than 24 teams are expected to take part. Basketball and table tennis will be played at DIT University.

Man held for raping girl on pretext of marriage, job

Dehradun, April 4
A 27-year-old man was today arrested on the charge of raping a 22-year-old woman. In her complaint to the police, the victim alleged that the man repeatedly raped her on the pretext of marriage and getting her a job.

Sub-inspector Vinod Gusain said the girl would work at a call centre at Subash Nagar where she came in contact with the accused, Bijendra Kumar Verma, who used to supply medicines to her office. She alleged that the accused took her to different hotels in the city saying they were going for an interview. However, he repeatedly raped her there.

The victim, who belong to Haridwar, said she somehow mustered courage and narrated the entire incident to her parents.

Today she lodged a complaint at the Clement Town police station after which Bijendra Kumar Verma, who lives in Gandhi Gram, was arrested and booked under Sections 365 and 376 of the IPC. He will be produced in court tomorrow. — TNS

531 students skip general science exam
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
As many as 531 students registered in the Dehradun district, skipped the general science board exam of class X, being conducted by the Uttarakhand State Board Examination, here today.

Giving the details, District Education Officer CN Kala said the number of absentees in the general science exam was quite high as compared to the previous years.

“A total of 18,146 students were registered in the district, out of which 17,615 appeared in the examination. For class XII Mathematics examination, 85 students remained absent out of the 3,104 registered students. The class XII Home Science exam saw 1,128 students appearing as against 1,143 registered,” he added.

Kala said no case of cheating was reported in any centre across the district and the development blocks. He said 10 flying squads were visiting every centre for surprise checking.

14th Finance Commission to meet on April 7
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
To chalk out state specific proposals for the 14th Finance Commission a meeting will be held on April 7 under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Subash Kumar.

All the heads of the departments have been asked to prepare proposals in keeping with the demands of the state.

However, it will take time for finalising the proposals by the government and these would be put before the 14th Finance Commission after the elections are over.

Though constituted last year, the shape and tenor of the commission is expected to change if the new government takes over office in New Delhi.

Recently Chief Minister Harish Rawat had urged the 14th Finance Commission to incorporate forest cover in the devolution formulae and give at least Rs 2000 crore as green bonus every year to Uttarakhand.

Grameen samiti seeks check on exploitation by schools
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 4
Grameen Vikas Samiti has sought a check on exploitation of parents by large number of Dehradun based schools. Addressing a press conference in Dehradun today, Grameen Vikas Samiti's President Kunwar Singh said private schools in Dehradun are charging exorbitant fees from nursery and kindergarten children and thus exploiting parents in a big way.

Kunwar Singh said these private schools were resorting to rampant commercialisation of education, which needs to be checked and asked the district administration to take prompt action against these schools.

He also threatened to stage an agitation if the district administration did not act promptly over the matter.