Tag: Pushkar Singh Dhami

  • Haldwani Clash Latest Update: 4 Dead, Rioters Being Identified Using CCTV; Shops, Schools Closed Amid Curfew Restrictions; 10 Key Developments

    Protestors including women and kids started pelting stones and petrol bombs at the police officials from behind a wall and roofs of adjacent buildings.

  • Uniform Civil Code Bill In Uttarakhand Assembly Today: Check Key Features |

    In a major development, the Uttarakhand Assembly bill will take up the Uniform Civil Code Bill for discussion and passing today. The UCC draft was approved by the Uttarakhand Cabinet led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday. The common civil code bill proposes uniform civil laws for all communities in the state. The assembly proceeding will begin at 11 am today. The UCC will provide a legal framework for uniform marriage, divorce, land, property and inheritance laws for all citizens, irrespective of their religion.

    A committee appointed by the Uttarakhand government, headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai, has compiled a comprehensive four-volume report spanning 749 pages, offering a multitude of recommendations. The committee actively sought public input through 2.33 lakh written submissions online and conducted over 70 public forums. Through these forums, the panel members actively interacted with approximately 60,000 individuals, incorporating their perspectives and insights into the drafting process.

    Key Features Of The UCC

    Equal Property Rights

    The Uniform Civil Code proposes to provide equal rights in property for both sons and daughters. The property right will stand even if the girl marries in any other religion. A 2005 amendment in the Hindu Succession Act 1956 already provides for married daughters to have an equal share as a son in their father’s property. 

    Legitimate And Illegitimate Children

    The Uttarakhand UCC bill also aims to abolish the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children concerning property rights. The bill specifies that all children would be recognised as the biological offspring of the parents and would have equal rights. Also, the bill gives equal footing and rights to children who are adopted, born through surrogacy, or born through assisted reproductive technology. The adoption process will be the same for all religions under the law.

    Property Rights After Death

    In the aftermath of an individual’s passing, the legislation ensures equitable property rights for both the spouse and children. Notably, this inclusive provision also extends such rights to the deceased person’s parents. This represents a significant departure from prior legal frameworks, where exclusive property rights were granted solely to the mother in the event of the individual’s demise.

    Equal Divorce Rights, Maintenance

    The UCC bill also provides for an equal divorce process and rights to men and women of every religion in the state. The Muslim Women Act, 2019 brought by the Narendra Modi government has already made instant triple talaq illegal. The maintenance law after divorce will be the same for all religions. 

    Ban On Polygamy, Child Marriage

    The bill also makes marriage registration mandatory for all religions. It also bans polygamy and child marriage, a common marriageable age for girls across all faiths. The bill also makes it mandatory to declare live-in relationships.

    Ban On Halala And Iddat

    The UCC bill seeks to ban Islamic practices such as halala and iddat which are considered unfair for women. Halala and iddat are Islamic practices a woman must go through after a divorce or the death of her husband.

  • Chardham Yatra begins with opening of Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines

    Express News Service

    On the “auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya”, the portals of the world-famous Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines have been opened for devotees amid chanting of Vedic mantras. According to the schedule, the portals of Gangotri Dham have been opened at 12.35 pm on Saturday and the Yamunotri Dham at 12.41 pm.

    Now for the next six months, devotees will be able to worship ‘Maa Ganga’ in Gangotri and ‘Maa Yamuna’ in Yamunotri Dham. On behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered his first puja and prayed for the prosperity of Uttarakhand and the country.

    With this, the world-famous Chardham Yatra started on Saturday.  Now in the next phase, the portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham will open on April 25 and of Shri Badrinath Dham on April 27. On reaching Devbhoomi, the pilgrims were welcomed by showering flowers from the helicopter.

    Speaking to The New Indian Express, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said, “Given the encouraging number of pilgrims coming to the Chardham Yatra, male and female “Tourism Assistance and Safety Friends” are being deployed through outsourced mode for the safety and assistance of pilgrims. He informed that 16,89,496 (sixteen lakh eighty thousand four hundred and twenty-six) pilgrims have registered themselves under the registration of Chardham and Hemkund Sahib pilgrims which started from February 18 this year.

    “On the arrival of ‘Utsav Doli’ of Maa Ganga, the portals of the shrine were opened for devotees on the occasion of ‘Sarvath Amrit Siddha Yog’ after performing Ganga Pujan, Ganga Sahasranama recitation and special pujas,” Gangotri Temple Committee president Harish Semwal told this newspaper.

    Yamunotri Temple Committee Secretary Suresh Uniyal told this daily, “Led by Shani Dev, the doli of Maa Yamuna left Kharsali village for Yamunotri Dham at 8 am on Saturday”. After offering prayers and performing Havan, the portals of the shrine have been opened for devotees in ‘Abhijeet Muhurat’ amid chanting of Vedic mantras.

    According to the status of registration of pilgrims in various dhams, so far 600434 for Kedarnath, 507759 for Badrinath, 307068 for Gangotri, 262621 for Yamunotri and 11614 for Hemkund have registered themselves.

    On the “auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya”, the portals of the world-famous Gangotri and Yamunotri shrines have been opened for devotees amid chanting of Vedic mantras. According to the schedule, the portals of Gangotri Dham have been opened at 12.35 pm on Saturday and the Yamunotri Dham at 12.41 pm.

    Now for the next six months, devotees will be able to worship ‘Maa Ganga’ in Gangotri and ‘Maa Yamuna’ in Yamunotri Dham. On behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami offered his first puja and prayed for the prosperity of Uttarakhand and the country.

    With this, the world-famous Chardham Yatra started on Saturday.  Now in the next phase, the portals of Shri Kedarnath Dham will open on April 25 and of Shri Badrinath Dham on April 27. On reaching Devbhoomi, the pilgrims were welcomed by showering flowers from the helicopter.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Speaking to The New Indian Express, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj said, “Given the encouraging number of pilgrims coming to the Chardham Yatra, male and female “Tourism Assistance and Safety Friends” are being deployed through outsourced mode for the safety and assistance of pilgrims. He informed that 16,89,496 (sixteen lakh eighty thousand four hundred and twenty-six) pilgrims have registered themselves under the registration of Chardham and Hemkund Sahib pilgrims which started from February 18 this year.

    “On the arrival of ‘Utsav Doli’ of Maa Ganga, the portals of the shrine were opened for devotees on the occasion of ‘Sarvath Amrit Siddha Yog’ after performing Ganga Pujan, Ganga Sahasranama recitation and special pujas,” Gangotri Temple Committee president Harish Semwal told this newspaper.

    Yamunotri Temple Committee Secretary Suresh Uniyal told this daily, “Led by Shani Dev, the doli of Maa Yamuna left Kharsali village for Yamunotri Dham at 8 am on Saturday”. After offering prayers and performing Havan, the portals of the shrine have been opened for devotees in ‘Abhijeet Muhurat’ amid chanting of Vedic mantras.

    According to the status of registration of pilgrims in various dhams, so far 600434 for Kedarnath, 507759 for Badrinath, 307068 for Gangotri, 262621 for Yamunotri and 11614 for Hemkund have registered themselves.

  • Uttarakhand CM orders immediate evacuation of 600 families in Joshimath

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered immediate evacuation of around 600 families living in houses which have developed huge cracks and are at risk in Joshimath town which is sinking.

    “Saving lives is our first priority. Officials have been asked to shift around 600 families living in endangered houses in Joshimath to safe locations,” Dhami told reporters here on Friday after reviewing the situation in the sinking town with officials via video conference.

    “We are also working on short and long-term plans to address the situation in Joshimath,” he said.

    The Chief Minister will visit Joshimath on Saturday, meet the affected people and hold a meeting with officials.

    Garhwal Commissioner Sushil Kumar and secretary, disaster management, Ranjit Kumar Sinha along with a team of experts are camping on the ground to constantly monitor the situation, Dhami said.

    Relocation of people from the affected areas should be done expeditiously, he told the officials.

    Medical treatment facilities should be available on ground and arrangements for airlifting people should also be made, he said.

    An immediate action plan as well as a long-term action plan should be prepared and work on both should be started in right earnest, Dhami said.

    Procedures should be simplified to expedite work on treatment of danger zones, sewer and drainage.

    “Lives of our citizens are most important for us ” he said.

    “Joshimath should be divided into sectors and zones and action should be taken accordingly.

    A disaster control room should also be set up in the town,” the chief minister said.

    For permanent rehabilitation of the affected people, alternative locations should be identified in Pipalkoti, Gauchar and other places, he said. The district magistrate should stay in touch with people and the potential danger zones should also be identified.

    “Moving people to safe locations is necessary. Satellite images can also be useful in this. All departments should act with a team spirit to achieve success in the exercise,” Dhami said.

    Adequate deployment of State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force personnel should be made to help the affected people, he said, adding helicopter services should also be made available, if required.

    “Joshimath is a town of religious and cultural importance. Care should be taken to ensure that the livelihoods of people are not affected,” he said.

    A temple collapsed on Friday evening in Singdhar ward of Joshimath, further alarming residents living under constant fear of a major disaster in the offing.

    Luckily there was no one inside the temple when it collapsed as it had been abandoned after it developed huge cracks over the past 15 days, locals said.

    Huge cracks have appeared in scores of houses while many have suffered subsidence.

    Nearly 50 families have been moved to safer locations, officials said. Apart from them, 60 families living in a colony meant for Vishnu Prayag Jal Vidyut Pariyojana employees have been shifted elsewhere, its director Pankaj Chauhan said.

    Marwari area, where an aquifer burst three days ago, is the worst hit as water is constantly coming down from it.

    All construction activities related to mega projects like the Char Dham all-weather road and the National Thermal Power Corporation’s hydel project have been stopped till further orders on the demand of residents.

    The Auli ropeway, which is Asia’s biggest, has been stopped after a huge crack developed beneath it, former president of the local municipality Rishi Prasad Sati said.

    Land subsidence has been going on for more than a year but the problem has aggravated over the past fortnight, he said. Meanwhile, protests continued on Friday as people staged a dharna at the tehsil office Joshimath demanding rehabilitation.

    As Joshimath’s susbsidence seemed to aggravate, the ruling BJP sent a team to the town to assess the situation.

    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has ordered immediate evacuation of around 600 families living in houses which have developed huge cracks and are at risk in Joshimath town which is sinking.

    “Saving lives is our first priority. Officials have been asked to shift around 600 families living in endangered houses in Joshimath to safe locations,” Dhami told reporters here on Friday after reviewing the situation in the sinking town with officials via video conference.

    “We are also working on short and long-term plans to address the situation in Joshimath,” he said.

    The Chief Minister will visit Joshimath on Saturday, meet the affected people and hold a meeting with officials.

    Garhwal Commissioner Sushil Kumar and secretary, disaster management, Ranjit Kumar Sinha along with a team of experts are camping on the ground to constantly monitor the situation, Dhami said.

    Relocation of people from the affected areas should be done expeditiously, he told the officials.

    Medical treatment facilities should be available on ground and arrangements for airlifting people should also be made, he said.

    An immediate action plan as well as a long-term action plan should be prepared and work on both should be started in right earnest, Dhami said.

    Procedures should be simplified to expedite work on treatment of danger zones, sewer and drainage.

    “Lives of our citizens are most important for us ” he said.

    “Joshimath should be divided into sectors and zones and action should be taken accordingly.

    A disaster control room should also be set up in the town,” the chief minister said.

    For permanent rehabilitation of the affected people, alternative locations should be identified in Pipalkoti, Gauchar and other places, he said. The district magistrate should stay in touch with people and the potential danger zones should also be identified.

    “Moving people to safe locations is necessary. Satellite images can also be useful in this. All departments should act with a team spirit to achieve success in the exercise,” Dhami said.

    Adequate deployment of State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force personnel should be made to help the affected people, he said, adding helicopter services should also be made available, if required.

    “Joshimath is a town of religious and cultural importance. Care should be taken to ensure that the livelihoods of people are not affected,” he said.

    A temple collapsed on Friday evening in Singdhar ward of Joshimath, further alarming residents living under constant fear of a major disaster in the offing.

    Luckily there was no one inside the temple when it collapsed as it had been abandoned after it developed huge cracks over the past 15 days, locals said.

    Huge cracks have appeared in scores of houses while many have suffered subsidence.

    Nearly 50 families have been moved to safer locations, officials said. Apart from them, 60 families living in a colony meant for Vishnu Prayag Jal Vidyut Pariyojana employees have been shifted elsewhere, its director Pankaj Chauhan said.

    Marwari area, where an aquifer burst three days ago, is the worst hit as water is constantly coming down from it.

    All construction activities related to mega projects like the Char Dham all-weather road and the National Thermal Power Corporation’s hydel project have been stopped till further orders on the demand of residents.

    The Auli ropeway, which is Asia’s biggest, has been stopped after a huge crack developed beneath it, former president of the local municipality Rishi Prasad Sati said.

    Land subsidence has been going on for more than a year but the problem has aggravated over the past fortnight, he said. Meanwhile, protests continued on Friday as people staged a dharna at the tehsil office Joshimath demanding rehabilitation.

    As Joshimath’s susbsidence seemed to aggravate, the ruling BJP sent a team to the town to assess the situation.

  • Under fire, government hands over rural security to civil cops

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN:  Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state’s chief minister, has announced that the revenue police will no longer be in charge of maintaining law and order in the state’s 1,500 villages. The revenue police have been at the centre of a scandal over how they handled the Ankita Bhandari murder case. The government’s decision follows widespread protest over Ankita’s death, during which the revenue police’s shortcomings were exposed.

    Relatives of the 19-year-old receptionist allegedly murdered by a BJP leader’s son cremated her on Sunday. Ankita had been missing since September 18, but after much uproar, her abductors and murderers were found and arrested five days later. After their arrest on September 23, the three suspects—Pulkit Arya, Saurabh, and manager Ankit—admitted to their crime. All of this was the consequence of the revenue police’s mistakes, for which the area’s revenue officer was suspended. 

    Although she had been missing for five days, the police didn’t start looking for her until the girl’s relatives reported her missing and expressed concern for her safety. Even though accusations against the resort owner and other suspects had been made far earlier, it took police five days to act and arrest them. In total, the state has 16793 villages, and more than half of them are concentrated in just four districts: Almora, Chamoli, Garhwal, and Tehri Garhwal. 

    The revenue patwari police have been in charge of maintaining law and order in these villages since the British rule. However, there are 405 villages with a population of fewer than 10 persons and 1053 settlements that are empty. In order to reduce costs, the British administration established the Patwari police system in 1861. Revenue officers are given the same privileges and responsibilities as police officers.

    Only in Uttarakhand have tax collection personnel been given responsibility for maintaining law and order in the state’s hilly regions. The Supreme Court emphasised the necessity for regular police to replace the system in 2010, but nothing came of it. Despite claims, no activity is evident on the ground despite the hilly areas’ residents’ repeated calls for regular policing against this system. 

    Ironically, no government has expressed a desire to change the framework that controls policing in over half of the state. There is a widespread belief and widespread observation that people frequently do not take revenue policeman seriously. Additionally, the required uniform is not worn by revenue police. 

    DEHRADUN:  Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state’s chief minister, has announced that the revenue police will no longer be in charge of maintaining law and order in the state’s 1,500 villages. The revenue police have been at the centre of a scandal over how they handled the Ankita Bhandari murder case. The government’s decision follows widespread protest over Ankita’s death, during which the revenue police’s shortcomings were exposed.

    Relatives of the 19-year-old receptionist allegedly murdered by a BJP leader’s son cremated her on Sunday. Ankita had been missing since September 18, but after much uproar, her abductors and murderers were found and arrested five days later. After their arrest on September 23, the three suspects—Pulkit Arya, Saurabh, and manager Ankit—admitted to their crime. All of this was the consequence of the revenue police’s mistakes, for which the area’s revenue officer was suspended. 

    Although she had been missing for five days, the police didn’t start looking for her until the girl’s relatives reported her missing and expressed concern for her safety. Even though accusations against the resort owner and other suspects had been made far earlier, it took police five days to act and arrest them. In total, the state has 16793 villages, and more than half of them are concentrated in just four districts: Almora, Chamoli, Garhwal, and Tehri Garhwal. 

    The revenue patwari police have been in charge of maintaining law and order in these villages since the British rule. However, there are 405 villages with a population of fewer than 10 persons and 1053 settlements that are empty. In order to reduce costs, the British administration established the Patwari police system in 1861. Revenue officers are given the same privileges and responsibilities as police officers.

    Only in Uttarakhand have tax collection personnel been given responsibility for maintaining law and order in the state’s hilly regions. The Supreme Court emphasised the necessity for regular police to replace the system in 2010, but nothing came of it. Despite claims, no activity is evident on the ground despite the hilly areas’ residents’ repeated calls for regular policing against this system. 

    Ironically, no government has expressed a desire to change the framework that controls policing in over half of the state. There is a widespread belief and widespread observation that people frequently do not take revenue policeman seriously. Additionally, the required uniform is not worn by revenue police.
     

  • Commission backs govt’s decision to conduct madrasa survey in Uttarakhand

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Pushkar Singh Dhami government’s announcement of a survey to monitor the activities of madrasas in the state has now got the patronage of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights along with Darul Uloom. 

    Uttarakhand is the third state after Assam and Uttar Pradesh where the government has announced a survey of madrasas. Sources say that according to a survey, there are about 89,000 madrasas where modern fundamental education is not imparted, the commission has taken a serious stand on these.

    Reacting to the move by state governments, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chief Priyank Kanungo on Wednesday said the statutory body will remind other states to undertake a similar exercise again.

    Chairman Priyank further told, “After receiving several complaints about such madrasas operating illegally, we met them and found that they were violating the Right to Education Act. No fundamental formal studies are being conducted there.

    Expressing concern over the level of fundamental education being imparted at Madrasas, the NCPCR Chief Kanoongo said that “There are governments that are concerned about the future of the children and are working to convert these madrassas into schools”.

    Maulana Ghulam Nabi Noori Shadab, manager of Darul Uloom Qadariya Sabariya (Piran Kaliyar Sharif), has already stood in support of Shadab Shams, chairman of waqf board.

    Significantly, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, after taking charge of the state this time, has consistently put the Hindutva agenda prominently, in which Dhami had proposed to bring a uniform civil code in the first cabinet meeting itself, the survey decision of madrasas is the second consecutive step in this regard.

    Taking strong exception to the Congress’s strategy of using the children’s wing, chairman Kanungo said the Congress has a separate wing to groom children under the banner of Jawahar Bal Manch. No other political party has such an offshoot. On recognition, every political party has to submit its constitution to the Election Commission.  Now it is for the Election Commission to decide what it deems fit.

    DEHRADUN: Pushkar Singh Dhami government’s announcement of a survey to monitor the activities of madrasas in the state has now got the patronage of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights along with Darul Uloom. 

    Uttarakhand is the third state after Assam and Uttar Pradesh where the government has announced a survey of madrasas. Sources say that according to a survey, there are about 89,000 madrasas where modern fundamental education is not imparted, the commission has taken a serious stand on these.

    Reacting to the move by state governments, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chief Priyank Kanungo on Wednesday said the statutory body will remind other states to undertake a similar exercise again.

    Chairman Priyank further told, “After receiving several complaints about such madrasas operating illegally, we met them and found that they were violating the Right to Education Act. No fundamental formal studies are being conducted there.

    Expressing concern over the level of fundamental education being imparted at Madrasas, the NCPCR Chief Kanoongo said that “There are governments that are concerned about the future of the children and are working to convert these madrassas into schools”.

    Maulana Ghulam Nabi Noori Shadab, manager of Darul Uloom Qadariya Sabariya (Piran Kaliyar Sharif), has already stood in support of Shadab Shams, chairman of waqf board.

    Significantly, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, after taking charge of the state this time, has consistently put the Hindutva agenda prominently, in which Dhami had proposed to bring a uniform civil code in the first cabinet meeting itself, the survey decision of madrasas is the second consecutive step in this regard.

    Taking strong exception to the Congress’s strategy of using the children’s wing, chairman Kanungo said the Congress has a separate wing to groom children under the banner of Jawahar Bal Manch. No other political party has such an offshoot. On recognition, every political party has to submit its constitution to the Election Commission.  Now it is for the Election Commission to decide what it deems fit.

  • Amid Dhami’s strong attacks on scamsters, Rahul questions Uttarakhand government’s credibility

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Notwithstanding Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s consistent tough stand on recruitment scams, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused the credibility of the state government and said the Dhami government has lost the right to continue in power.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today made a big announcement that if any irregularity is found on the basis of complaints in all recruitments made since the formation of Uttarakhand, then an inquiry will be conducted with fairness.

    Taking a tough stand on the scams, Chief Minister Dhami said that irrespective of the period in which the recruitments took place, they would be investigated impartially.

    Chief Minister Dhami also said that after the arrival of Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri, who is currently on a foreign tour, he will take the next decision after consultation.

    Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has launched a major attack on the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami government after irregularities came to light in all recruitment examinations in the state.

    Rahul said that the jobs of the poor and middle class in Uttarakhand are being sold to the rich and those close to the government for money.

    Rahul Gandhi said, “The Dhami government has lost the right to continue in office”.

    “The Congress will continue to fight against the corruption in the state”, he added.

    Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Karan Mahara assured Rahul Gandhi on his tweet and said, “we all are overwhelmed by your sensitivity towards the youth of the state”.

    Responding to Rahul Gandhi, state president Mahra assured that, “our role as the main opposition party of Uttarakhand will be fulfilled with full responsibility and seriousness and we are keeping a close eye on the ongoing recruitment scams in the state.”

    DEHRADUN: Notwithstanding Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s consistent tough stand on recruitment scams, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi accused the credibility of the state government and said the Dhami government has lost the right to continue in power.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today made a big announcement that if any irregularity is found on the basis of complaints in all recruitments made since the formation of Uttarakhand, then an inquiry will be conducted with fairness.

    Taking a tough stand on the scams, Chief Minister Dhami said that irrespective of the period in which the recruitments took place, they would be investigated impartially.

    Chief Minister Dhami also said that after the arrival of Assembly Speaker Ritu Khanduri, who is currently on a foreign tour, he will take the next decision after consultation.

    Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has launched a major attack on the Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami government after irregularities came to light in all recruitment examinations in the state.

    Rahul said that the jobs of the poor and middle class in Uttarakhand are being sold to the rich and those close to the government for money.

    Rahul Gandhi said, “The Dhami government has lost the right to continue in office”.

    “The Congress will continue to fight against the corruption in the state”, he added.

    Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Karan Mahara assured Rahul Gandhi on his tweet and said, “we all are overwhelmed by your sensitivity towards the youth of the state”.

    Responding to Rahul Gandhi, state president Mahra assured that, “our role as the main opposition party of Uttarakhand will be fulfilled with full responsibility and seriousness and we are keeping a close eye on the ongoing recruitment scams in the state.”

  • Uttarakhand: Six-month extension given to 1,662 temporary employees recruited during COVID-19 period

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: The Dhami government in the state has decided that an action plan will be prepared on how to double the income of the state in the next five years.

    An international level consultancy agency will be appointed to double the income of the state.

    Apart from this, 15 other issues were also stamped in the cabinet meeting held at the secretariat on Wednesday.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who is consistently moving ahead with Prime Minister Modi’s slogan ‘This decade is Uttarakhand’s decade” has instructed all the departments to implement the agenda of doubling the state’s income in the next five years.

    A total of 16 matters were approved in the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

    In another significant decision taken by the government, 1662 temporary employees recruited during the Covid period under the medical department will be given an extension of six months as per the terms of their date of appointment on the expiry of their service period.

    Cabinet also resolved to provide more facilities to pilgrims on the Chardham Yatra, and in view of the lack of space under construction in Kedarnath, the one-storey building has now been allowed to be built up to double floors.

    Approval was given to bring more manpower to INI Consultancy Agency for construction work in Badrinath, Kedarnath.

    As many as 70 posts were sanctioned for the Rs 526-crore Jayka project under the horticulture department.

    Taking a step forward to protect the interest of the buyer, today’s Cabinet adopted the central government’s draft to protect the right of the buyer under RERA, Uttarakhand Land Estate Regulation and Agreement for Development and Sale Rules 2022

    DEHRADUN: The Dhami government in the state has decided that an action plan will be prepared on how to double the income of the state in the next five years.

    An international level consultancy agency will be appointed to double the income of the state.

    Apart from this, 15 other issues were also stamped in the cabinet meeting held at the secretariat on Wednesday.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who is consistently moving ahead with Prime Minister Modi’s slogan ‘This decade is Uttarakhand’s decade” has instructed all the departments to implement the agenda of doubling the state’s income in the next five years.

    A total of 16 matters were approved in the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday.

    In another significant decision taken by the government, 1662 temporary employees recruited during the Covid period under the medical department will be given an extension of six months as per the terms of their date of appointment on the expiry of their service period.

    Cabinet also resolved to provide more facilities to pilgrims on the Chardham Yatra, and in view of the lack of space under construction in Kedarnath, the one-storey building has now been allowed to be built up to double floors.

    Approval was given to bring more manpower to INI Consultancy Agency for construction work in Badrinath, Kedarnath.

    As many as 70 posts were sanctioned for the Rs 526-crore Jayka project under the horticulture department.

    Taking a step forward to protect the interest of the buyer, today’s Cabinet adopted the central government’s draft to protect the right of the buyer under RERA, Uttarakhand Land Estate Regulation and Agreement for Development and Sale Rules 2022

  • HP: Champawat goes to polls on Tuesday to decide fate of Dhami as CM

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Bypoll for the Champawat assembly seat in Uttarakhand will be held on Tuesday deciding the fate of four candidates, including Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s, whose continuance in office depends on its result.

    Although he steered the party to a big victory in Uttarakhand assembly polls in February, Dhami had lost from Khatima – a seat he had won twice since 2012. His defeat was attributed by political analysts to his inability to focus on his own constituency, as he was preoccupied with the party’s overall performance as its chief ministerial face.

    Dhami must win from Champawat to make it to the state assembly as an MLA – a constitutional requirement for him to remain a CM. The seat had gone to the BJP in the state assembly polls. When the party made him chief minister once again despite his loss, Champawat’s sitting MLA Kailash Gehtori was the first to offer to vacate his seat for him.

    Keeping his word, he resigned as an MLA from Champawat on April 21 to pave the way for the chief minister to make a fresh bid for the state assembly.

    The BJP, which won the state polls for a second term in a row with a two-thirds majority, is sure of Dhami’s victory with a record margin. Its optimism is hinged on the young chief minister’s popularity, as well as the past trend, according to which chief ministers in Uttarakhand have never lost a bypoll.

    Former chief minister ND Tiwari, for instance, had won comfortably from Ramnagar in a bypoll in 2002.

    Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri had won it from Dhumakot in 2007, Vijay Bahuguna from Sitarganj in 2012, and Harish Rawat from Dharchula in 2014.

    “The Chief Minister is sure to win by a historic margin. The Congress is nowhere in contest. It is going to be a one-sided affair. People are going to vote for development and the young and dynamic leadership of Dhami,” Pradesh BJP vice president Devendra Bhasin said.

    “We are confident of a big victory in Champawat. Congress will lose its deposits,” Pradesh BJP spokesman Shadab Shams, who offered a Chadar in Piran Kaliyar Sharief praying for Dhami’s victory, told PTI.

    “People in Champawat are wise enough to understand that the bypoll is for the election of a chief minister, not only an MLA,” he said.

    Though starting with an advantage, Dhami reportedly worked very hard during campaigning in Champawat, holding a slew of public meetings and road shows along with Gehtori.

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was the most prominent among the party’s star campaigners to canvass for Dhami.

    Yogi had held a road show and addressed a public meeting in Tanakpur with Dhami sharing the stage. He appealed to voters in Champawat to vote overwhelmingly for Dhami, who is still relatively younger at 46 among his other state counterparts.

    Yogi asked the public to see the bypoll as an opportunity to elect a CM, not just an MLA.

    “Don’t waste this chance of electing a CM who has come to the people of Champawat for the first time after it became a district in 1997,”   he had said.

    Congress’ lack of enthusiasm during campaigning has been evident with no big leader of the party canvassing for the party candidate, except Harish Rawat, who is optimistic about the party giving a tough fight to Dhami.

    Dhami is pitted against Congress’ former district president Nirmala Gehtori in a straight contest.

    Two others in the fray are Samajwadi Party’s Manoj Kumar Bhatt and Independent candidate Himashu Gadkoti. A total of 96,213 voters will cast their votes in the bypoll scheduled to begin at 8 am on Tuesday.

  • Uttarakhand bypolls: Congress fields Nirmala Gahatodi against Pushkar Singh Dhami

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday fielded Nirmala Gahatodi against Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami for the bypolls to the Champawat Assembly seat.

    Dhami, who had lost from Khatima during the Assembly elections, is required to be elected to the state Assembly to continue as the chief ministers.

    The byelections will be held on May 31.

    A statement issued by Congress General Secretary Mukul Wasnik on Friday said party president Sonia Gandhi approved Nirmala’s candidature for the Champawat bypolls.

    Nirmala belongs to the Brahmin community and had come into limelight during an anti-liquor movement nearly three decades ago.

    She has been a member of the state Congress committee and the All-India Congress Committee.

    She was also a minister of state in the previous state Congress government.