AAP campaign thriving on volunteers
Sandeep Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 19
While the main political parties, such as Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), are campaigning mainly on party cadre spread across the length and breadth of the state, newly-formed political organisation Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is relying on voluntary support of activists.

AAP's Haridwar parliamentary constituency candidate, former Uttarakhand director general of Police (DGP) Kanchan Bhattacharya, is getting support of volunteers not only from Uttarakhand but also from outside the state.

Even Indians based in foreign countries like United States of America, Australia and Great Britain are supporting her campaign financially and via the social media.

A core group of volunteers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Roorkee, is working on the ground level to ensure that AAP's ideology and local candidate Bhattacharya's manifesto, vision and public issues being raised are disseminated to maximum number of voters.

Online donations, self-support groups, social media campaigns, voters list, chalking out election campaign strategy to decide where and when to hold public meetings or road shows, all is being chalked out by these IITians.

An alumni, Abhishek Sharma from Roorkee, is generating funds for Bhattacharya's campaign through social sites and from IIT alumni.

Another pass out Ashutosh Aggarwal, who currently works in Singapore in a corporate firm, has come to Haridwar to assist Bhattacharya.

Both Abhishek and Ashutosh said support for AAP among NRIs in USA, UK, Australia and the Gulf countries was tremendous as they all wanted a major change in the political system of India, which the other parties at the helm had failed to provide in the past 67 years.

Madhur, a law graduate from Mumbai, said post the Delhi state Assembly elections, AAP was getting economic assistance and voluntary workers on a large scale as youths wanted change in the democratic set up of the country.

Citing figures, Dev Bhattacharya, husband of Kanchan Bhattacharya, said AAP had received economic support and volunteers from 114 countries.

In Haridwar constituency as a majority of Assembly segments fell in rural areas, where literacy and social awareness was very less, the party was not sticking to just social media campaign but reaching to the voters in rural segments, he said.

"For city and rural segments we have different election campaign strategies as both differ variedly in geographical, social, economic and local aspects," said JP Baduni, district coordinator of AAP.

Deepak Nautiyal, a school teacher at a government school, said AAP had surely changed the way election campaign was carried out in Haridwar, as people find Bhattacharya more closer and approachable in comparison to Chief Minister's wife Renuka Rawat (Congress) and former CM Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (BJP).

Congress has ignored defence men, say retired generals

Dehradun, April 19
Condemning Congress for failing to honour soldiers, today it was the turn of retired generals to make a pitch for the BJP prime ministerial candidate Narinder Modi and party candidate from Pauri BC Khanduri.

Addressing a press conference, Lt Gen (retd) MS Gosain said Congress party had never cared for the honour of the soldiers and the announcement of one rank one pension was a charade aimed at garnering votes for the Lok Sabha elections. “The Congress is befooling ex-servicemen. To this day, no rules and regulations have been framed for its implementation. Further, a small allocation of Rs 500 crore has been made for the implementation of OROP, beginning April 1, which is too paltry an amount and puts a question mark on the intentions of the government,” said Gosain.

The BJP had always been the votary of the one-rank-one pension and it had even included in its manifesto. “We are optimistic that the interests of the ex-servicemen would be served better under the leadership of BJP and Narinder Modi,” he added. — TNS

Saint: Youth must vote to change political system
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 19
Urging the youth to cast votes on May 7 when Uttarakhand goes to the polls, Mahant Swami Sutishna Muni of Shri Shri Jagad Guru Udasin Ashram, said that younger generation has the ability and energy to change the political system in the country but only if they use their right to vote effectively.

Swami Sutishna Muni,who was recently accorded mahant sainthood at Jagad Guru Udasin Ashram, said that be it any field, youths have a pivotal role to play and by concentrating on positive aspects they can change society.

Saying that corruption has got deep rooted in society,Mahant Sutishna said that at every level by casting vote for an honest person ,be it college union election, gram pradhan, panchayat, MLA or MP election, ''we can bring a major change as efficient public representatives will only bring efficiency and transparent working style.''

He said that positive thoughts, simple living, aiming for larger objectives,simplicity and contributing to society and country should be on the mind of the youth ,''as destiny of our country hangs on the path the youth takes.''

The young mahant was also given blessings by Shri Mahant Maheshwar Das, Maha Mandaleshwar’s Swami Hari Chetanand ,Swami Shyam Sunder Shastri and Swami Bhagwat Swarup.

Congress wave in state, says Renuka Rawat
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 19
Congress candidate from Haridwar parliamentary constituency Renuka Rawat, addressed various gatherings in the constituency today, where she urged voters to vote for candidate supporting development issues.

Addressing a public gathering at Subash Nagar, which falls in BHEL-Ranipur Assembly segment, Renuka said in the past few years’, people of Haridwar witnessed mass development during sitting parliamentarian Harish Rawat’s tenure, which would be replicated if she wins the ongoing election.

Renuka said mass development projects initiated by Chief Minister Harish Rawat in just a month long tenure in Uttarakhand were remarkable and unmatched as he got just a fortnight since assuming the post prior to implementation of election code of conduct.

Lashing at BJP candidate Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, she sought clarification on the irregularities during Maha Kumbh fair held in 2010, when Nishank was the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand. “People of Haridwar want an explanation from Nishank the Kumbh fair budget scam. How can voters vote for a party and a candidate, who bungled the budget of a religious fair,” said Renuka.

While in another election meeting, she lashed at political parties who bank on divisive and caste politics, saying that development should be the main agenda but be it BJP, Samajwadi Party or Bahujan Samaj Party, they all try to sow seeds of division among the voters for political advantage. Meanwhile, camp election offices of Renuka Rawat were inaugurated by state Congress president Yashpal Arya at Bhagwanpur and Jhabreda segments.

Urging party workers to support Chief Minister Harish Rawat by ensuring his wife Renuka Rawat’s win from Haridwar, Arya said previously Harish Rawat was handed out a record win from Haridwar.

“History is all set to repeat as Renuka Rawat is contesting from Haridwar and Harish Rawat ji is now the Chief Minister. There is a certain wave in favour of Congress in Uttarakhand and the so-called Narendra Modi wave is insignificant,” said Arya.

State Congress forms various committees for LS poll

Dehradun, April 19
To ensure success in the forthcoming general elections, the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee formed various committees. Giving details, Yashpal Arya, president state Congress said the committee for the poll control room would include Vijay Saraswat, Ramsharan Nautiyal, Prayag Dutt Bhatt, Mathura Dutt Joshi, Rajiv Jain, Jot Singh Bisht and Manish Nagpal.

The committee for star campaigners would include Vijay Saraswat, Rajiv Jain, Lal Chandra Sharma, Harender Singh Laddi, Rajiv Mahrishi, Jasveer Rawat, Dinesh Kunjwal, Sumit Hridyesh and Himanshu Gaba. The Media Coordination Committee would be looked after by Surendra Aggarwal, Suryakant Dhasmana, Rajiv Jain, Shilpi 
Arora, Mathura Dutt Joshi.

The Haldwani-based camp office would be handled by Tilak Raj Behad, Narayan Pal, Bhupal Bhakuni, Dinesh Kunjwal. — TNS

No end to problems of people living around Tehri reservoir 
Neena Sharma
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections the issues of people affected by the Tehri Dam may have lost sheen but the people living in the close proximity of the Tehri reservoir continue to face problems. The BJP or the Congress, which are hoping to bag the Tehri Garhwal parliamentary seat, have not solved their problems.

For people residing in 100 villages around the Bhilangana and Bhagirathi rivers, it is a daily struggle crossing the 46-km Tehri reservoir where the only connectivity is by a boat.

While former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna announced several schemes for promoting the tourism potential of the reservoir, the genuine problems of the people like road and drinking water have not been addressed.

A Rs 100-crore bridge to cover the 60-km area between Pratapnagar and Tehri that could provide respite to the people continues to be affected by corruption and awaits completion.

Vast areas of the Pratapnagar Assembly segment falling under the Tehri parliamentary constituency continues to remain cut off from the district headquarters of New Tehri in the absence of a bridge. The residents have to cover almost 80 km by road to reach New Tehri as the bridge connecting the two places is incomplete.

Further during the monsoon, when landslips create havoc, people are forced to take a detour via Uttarkashi, traversing an additional distance of 180 km to reach New Tehri.

“Our problems have not caught the attention of the BJP or the Congress. Restoring suspended work on bridges and constructing new ones is also pending. Several bridges were devastated in the mid-June natural disaster last year,” said Devi Prasad, a resident of Malla village.

In August last year, around 50 villages above the dam got completely cut off as the bridge located at Chinyalisaur got submerged after the water level in the dam increased. The villagers say the reservoir and the landslips in the upper areas are problems that continue to affect the people in Tehri.

The perennial water problem in Pratapnagar continues to remein unsolved. “The dam that is supposed to be the highest in the world has given us unending pain. It is harnessing waters of two important Bhagirathi and Bhilangana rivers and sending it to New Delhi while we continue to face the water problem,” said Rajpal Singh, a local resident.

Foreigners catch a glimpse of Indian culture at Brisbane yagna
Tribune News Service

Haridwar, April 19
Attracted by India's culture, a host of foreigners are visiting the ongoing ‘Ashwamedha Gayatri Maha Yagna’ being held at Australia these days.

Being organised by Akhil Bharatiya Gayatri Shantikunj family from April 18-20, the yagna is well-attended by Australian citizens, who are being apprised of Indian culture by Shantikunj activists.

This special yagna is being organised to pray for peace and safety from nature's fury.

As per Shantikunj spiritual ideologue Dr Pranav Pandya, 501 earthen pots were used during a religious procession at Brisbane by Shantikunj women and followers residing in Australia, New Zealand and Fiji on Friday.

Locals lined up the streets to have a glimpse of Indian's religious culture and rituals.

Shantikunj foreign wing representative, Dr Pramod Bhatnagar, said they were working for the last one year for a successful programme.

Withdraw increase in excise duty on CSD liquor: Ex-servicemen
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
The Ex-servicemen of the state are demanding an immediate renewal of the CSD liquor licences and withdrawal of the 20 per cent hike levied on the excise duty. This was stated by Brig KG Behl (retd), president, Dehradun Ex-Services League.

“In its bid to stop the smuggling of liquor from the adjoining states, the Uttarakhand government had removed 20 per cent VAT from the cost of the liquor so as to make it cheaper. In the process, it imposed more excise duty to generate more revenue. However, the government also increased the excise duty on the liquor available through the CSD. As a result the cost of the liquor in the CSD became very high and this is badly affecting the budget of the Ex-servicemen as the cost of even ordinary whisky has gone up by Rs 50 to100 per bottle,” he added.

“While formulating the new liquor policy effective from April this year, the state government has further lowered the rates of liquor in the civil market by further reducing the VAT, but has ignored bringing down rates of liquor increased in the CSD canteens. It was expected that the rates in the CSD canteens would be reduced,” said Brig Behl (retd).

“If the state government is really bothered about the welfare of the Ex- servicemen, they should immediately withdraw this hike and immediately renew this financial year’s licences so that the chain of bringing liquor is not broken,” said Brig Behl (retd).

17 get Uttarakhand Ratna award
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
As many as 17 persons were awarded Uttarakhand Ratna for their contribution to various fields at a function organised by the Centre of Indway Development Organisation.

Those given awards are late Gaura Devi (Chipko Andolan), late Indiramani Badoni (Uttarakhand Andolan), Dr Anil P. Joshi (environment), Dr Madhuri Barthwal (music), Subedar Durga Prashad Thakur (war heroes), Yogesh Agarwal (blood donations), DIG Sanjay Gunjyal (police administration), Dr Pankaj Arora (medicine), Adesh Gupta (printing press), Surendra Arya (media), Vijay Saluja (advertising media), Ramlal (puppet show) and Kalyan Singh Rawat (forest conservation), Abhinav Bisht (sports), Dr PPS Rana (jyotish), Dr MA Rahul (handicapped) and Zaid Khan (creative artists).

Later, the finale of Glamorous Princess and Queen was held. Raxanda Shah and Suhani were adjudged Glamorous Princess and Queen, respectively. The judges of the show were DID Super Mom fame winner Zoya Khan, actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and Rajnish K Sharma (producer and director).

Maya college felicitates Ali Zafar
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
Renowned writer-director Ali Abbas Zafar was felicitated by Maya Group of Colleges in a special programme organised here today.

Addressing the students, Zafar encouraged the students to showcase their hidden talent. He also appreciated the cultural performance presented by the students and 
shared his memories of school life spent in the state capital.

The students performed a fusion dance and Gujarati folk dance on a song from his film with a band performance.

Vice-chairman Ashish Semwal, MD Tripti Semwal, secretary Saurabh Juyal, director Gaurab Juyal, director engineering Dr Ravi Juyal, director management Dr HL Upadhyay and dean SS Sarin were also present on the occasion.

Dial 100 staff given stress management training
Tribune News Service

Dehradun, April 19
Police personnel of Dial 100 were given stress management and behaviour training during the ongoing four-day workshop at the 108 Emergency Medical Service Center here yesterday.

While addressing the participants in the workshop, DIG, Garhwal range, Amit Sinha, said the police personnel working in the Dial 100 service needs to be mentally and physically fit, as they were supposed to act with promptness in case of any complaint.

He said the Dial 100 personnel had to behave in a courteous manner while speaking to the complainant over the phone.

Officials of the Dial 100 services were also present.

Legal awareness programme concludes
Tribune News service

Dehradun, April 19
A two-day legal awareness programme for women of Kalsi block villages concluded at the local Aanganwadi centre here today.

The training was conducted to make the rural women aware of their rights and laws available for them. The event was conducted by the Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK) master trainers with the support of the National Commission for Women.

The training was opened with an introduction session by Damini Bhargava on basic rights and laws supporting women under the Indian constitution.

The training included sessions on sex ratio and determination, the PCPNDT Act, sexual harassment at workplace, Right to Information, Dowry Prohibition Act, Right to Information, free legal aid etc. A session on psychological empowerment and self development was also undertaken by Swekriti Bhatnagar.

The training saw participation of women managing their households and those who were standing in Panchayat elections.

Master trainers Rekha Pundir, Damini Bhargava, N Tripathi, Rekha Dhyani and Pushpa Bisht cleared doubts of the village women on different laws.