News Analysis India

Tag: Uttarakhand

  • Former Congress Uttarakhand chief Kishore Upadhyay joins BJP

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: In a setback to the Congress, former state Congress president Kishore Upadhyay on Thursday joined the BJP, days ahead of the February 14 Assembly polls in Uttarakhand.

    Union Minister and the party’s election in-charge for Uttarakhand Pralhad Joshi and Union Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt welcomed Upadhyay into the BJP fold.

    It is speculated that the BJP might field him from Tehri constituency. Upadhyay had won the Tehri seat in 2002 and 2007. However, in the 2012 polls, he lost to independent candidate Dinesh Dhanai by 377 votes.

    In 2017, he had contested from Sahaspur in Dehradun instead of Tehri and was defeated by BJP’s Sahdev Singh Pundir. Earlier, the Congress had expelled him from the party for six years for “anti-party activities.”

    Upadhyay was also the minister of state for industries in the first elected government of Uttarakhand led by chief minister late Narayan Dutt Tiwari. He served as the chief of Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee from 2014 to 2017.

    Upadhyay had long been accusing the Congress of neglecting him despite being a senior leader and his defection to the BJP is being seen in this context.

  • Retired Colonel Vijay, brother of late CDS Bipin Rawat, not to contest Uttarakhand Assembly polls

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Gen Bipin Rawat’s younger brother Col (retd) Vijay Rawat, who recently joined the BJP, on Sunday said he is not contesting the upcoming assembly polls in Uttarakhand.

    Col Rawat said he was asked by party leaders to contest but he said no to them.

    Asked what if they insist on fielding him, he said 99 per cent chances are that he would politely refuse.

    “I am not contesting the polls. I am interested only in serving the people of Uttarakhand,” Col Rawat said in an interview to PTI.

    Joining the BJP less than a month ahead of the state assembly polls had given rise to speculation in the media that he might be given a ticket by the party.

    “My purpose behind joining the BJP was serving people and not holding an office or a post. During my 34 years in the Army I was transferred to different places. I didn’t get a chance to serve people of my own state. Now that I am retired I can do that,” he said.

    “I don’t want to be tied up to a post. I want to serve people freely,” he said.

    Col Rawat, who lives in Jaipur after his retirement five years ago, said Uttarakhand’s tourism potential can be utilised for generating employment for locals at their homes and stop migration from the hills.

    “With a growing tendency among people living in urban areas to take a break and spend a holiday in the unpolluted atmosphere of the hills, homestay facilities introduced by the state government have a huge employment generation potential,” he said.

    Yoga, trekking and other adventure sports is another area in which there are self-employment opportunities for locals in Uttarakhand, he said.

    Col Rawat said even CDS Rawat, who died in a helicopter crash, was very passionate about serving the people of Uttarakhand from outside politics.

    “My elder brother had specific development plans ready for different areas of the state including Almora and Ranikhet,” he said, adding he doesn’t want to talk about him much as thinking about his demise makes him distraught.

    CDS Rawat and 13 others were killed in a helicopter crash in Coonoor in Tamil Nadu on December 8 last year.

  • Uttarakhand High Court suspends physical hearing after judge, four others test COVID positive

    By PTI

    NAINITAL: Uttarakhand High Court has suspended physical hearings after a judge and four other employees of the court tested positive for Covid-19 on Friday, officials said.

    Important matters will be heard virtually, according to a high court official.

    Apart from the five, four Nainital residents also tested positive for Covid on Friday.

    Although all the infected people are asymptomatic, they have been home quarantined and around 60 samples from the High Court sent for testing, he said.

  • PM inaugurates, lays foundation stones of projects worth over Rs 17,500 cr in Haldwani

    By PTI

    HALDWANI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated and laid foundation stones of projects worth over Rs 17,500 crore here ahead of the assembly elections in Uttarakhand.

    The unveiling of projects by Modi included the inauguration of six worth Rs 3,420 crore and laying the foundation stones of 17 others worth Rs 14,127 crore.

    The inaugurated projects include three different stretches of the Chardham all-weather road which have been widened, Nagina-Kashipur National Highway, Suring Gad hydel project and sewage works under the Namami Gange programme at Nainital.

    Lakhwar multi-purpose hydro-electricity project worth Rs 5,747 crore, an AIIMS satellite centre for Kumaon worth Rs 500 crore, Moradabad-Kashipur four-lane road, improved road connectivity with Nepal and an Aroma Park in Kashipur are among the key projects whose foundation was laid by the prime minister.

    The Lakhwar multi-purpose project will produce 300 MW of electricity.

    The 330 million cubic metres water in its reservoir will supply irrigation and drinking water to the six states of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi. This is Modi’s second visit to the state this month.

    On his last visit to Uttarakhand on December 4, Modi had unveiled projects worth over Rs 18,000 crore in Dehradun besides addressing an election rally.

  • Omicron cases surges in India; yellow alert for Delhi

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: Mumbai on Tuesday recorded 70 percent cases of Omicron variant, higher than yesterday, while Delhi witnessed 50 percent increase.

    Mumbai has reported over 1000 cases for the first time in months, with 1,377 cases reported on Tuesday. Yesterday, the city had recorded 803 cases. Meanwhile, 338 people have recovered from the disease on Tuesday. The number of fresh cases in Maharashtra stood at 2,172.

    Delhi reported 496 fresh cases as against the 331 cases reported yesterday. The national capital reported one death. According to reports, a yellow alert has been sounded in Delhi and some restrictions imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in view of rising number of Covid cases in the city.

    Punjab has banned entry of not fully vaccinated people from January 15 in public places.

    Delhi, Karnataka, UP, MP, Assam, Haryana and Kerala, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu have imposed night curfews so far.

    In Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu on Tuesday instructed all the District Magistrates (DMs) to create containment zones and impose various restrictions on basis of population and population density in the view of an increase in COVID-19 cases and the danger of its Omicron variant.

    As per a release from the state government, he has instructed all the District Magistrates to take special steps for the protection and safety of people against COVID-19 and its recently-discovered Omicron variant.

    He has instructed the district magistrates to follow the preventive measures and restrictions in accordance with the instructions issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. He said that keeping a constant watch on the cases of COVID-19 in all the districts.

    Sandhu has directed all the DMs to ensure the continuation of containment strategy, testing, contact tracing, isolation, surveillance, adequate clinical management, vaccination and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

    “He has instructed to take steps like night curfew, ban on overcrowding, reducing the number of marriages and funerals, limiting the number in offices, industries and public transport in case of increase in Covid cases. Instructions were given that strict compliance of Containment Zone, Buffer Zone etc. should be ensured,” added the release.

    The Chief Secretary has also stressed sending samples for door to door case search and genome sequencing at the earliest, along with conducting COVID testing as per the guidelines of ICMR and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Instructions have been given to conduct contact tracing of people and testing as per the guidelines of ICMR. He added that sampling and monitoring of travellers from abroad should be done on priority.

    Sandhu has given instructions to keep the district-level control rooms and their numbers in active mode. Along with this, instructions have also been given to ensure 100 per cent coverage of COVID-19 vaccination along with the availability of an adequate number of isolation beds, oxygen beds and ICU beds.

    The Chief Secretary has also directed to conduct continuous campaigns for public awareness about the wearing of masks and COVID behaviour among the general public. 

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Omicron cases surges in India; night curfews in 8 states, 3 UTs

    By Online Desk

    NEW DELHI: Mumbai on Tuesday recorded 70 percent cases of Omicron variant, higher than yesterday, while Delhi witnessed 50 percent increase.

    Mumbai has reported over 1000 cases for the first time in months, with 1,377 cases reported on Tuesday. Yesterday, the city had recorded 803 cases. Meanwhile, 338 people have recovered from the disease on Tuesday. The number of fresh cases in Maharashtra stood at 2,172.

    Delhi reported 496 fresh cases as against the 331 cases reported yesterday. The national capital reported one death. According to reports, a yellow alert has been sounded in Delhi and some restrictions imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in view of rising number of Covid cases in the city.

    Punjab has banned entry of not fully vaccinated people from January 15 in public places.

    Delhi, Karnataka, UP, MP, Assam, Haryana and Kerala, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu have imposed night curfews so far.

    In Uttarakhand, Chief Secretary Dr SS Sandhu on Tuesday instructed all the District Magistrates (DMs) to create containment zones and impose various restrictions on basis of population and population density in the view of an increase in COVID-19 cases and the danger of its Omicron variant.

    As per a release from the state government, he has instructed all the District Magistrates to take special steps for the protection and safety of people against COVID-19 and its recently-discovered Omicron variant.

    He has instructed the district magistrates to follow the preventive measures and restrictions in accordance with the instructions issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. He said that keeping a constant watch on the cases of COVID-19 in all the districts.

    Sandhu has directed all the DMs to ensure the continuation of containment strategy, testing, contact tracing, isolation, surveillance, adequate clinical management, vaccination and COVID-19 appropriate behaviour.

    “He has instructed to take steps like night curfew, ban on overcrowding, reducing the number of marriages and funerals, limiting the number in offices, industries and public transport in case of increase in Covid cases. Instructions were given that strict compliance of Containment Zone, Buffer Zone etc. should be ensured,” added the release.

    The Chief Secretary has also stressed sending samples for door to door case search and genome sequencing at the earliest, along with conducting COVID testing as per the guidelines of ICMR and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Instructions have been given to conduct contact tracing of people and testing as per the guidelines of ICMR. He added that sampling and monitoring of travellers from abroad should be done on priority.

    Sandhu has given instructions to keep the district-level control rooms and their numbers in active mode. Along with this, instructions have also been given to ensure 100 per cent coverage of COVID-19 vaccination along with the availability of an adequate number of isolation beds, oxygen beds and ICU beds.

    The Chief Secretary has also directed to conduct continuous campaigns for public awareness about the wearing of masks and COVID behaviour among the general public. 

    (With inputs from ANI)

  • Have same concern like Harish Rawat, but hopeful of solution: Uttarakhand Congress chief Ganesh Godiyal

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Ahead of a meeting of Uttarakhand Congress leaders with former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal on Thursday said he shares feelings of party’s campaign chief Harish Rawat but hoped things will be sorted out in a day or two in consultation with the party high command.

    This comes as the state Congress leaders will meet top leadership in Delhi to iron out differences ahead of elections in the state.

    Commenting on Rawat’s tweet where he cited non-cooperation from high command and that he feels like quitting, Godiyal said: “I also feel this and not today but for quite some time. But my style is to give the person in question enough time to correct himself.”

    He further said that the organisation is aware of the brewing trouble in the state unit and the process to address it has also been underway.

    “If they were addressed earlier there would not have been a tweet like this. We will meet party general secretary KC Venugopal and also Rahul Gandhi if necessary and put things before them. I hope a solution will be found,” he said.

    Rawat had Wednesday tweeted that, “Isn’t it strange that the organizational structure at most places, instead of extending a helping hand, is standing with its head turned away or playing a negative role at a time when I have to swim across the ocean of elections”.

    Sources said that Rawat has differences with party state incharge Devender Yadav over several issues, including that the party should project him as the face for chief minister while Rahul Gandhi does not want that and that the election should be conducted under collective leadership.   

    Yadav has been saying the party will go to polls under a collective leadership as has been the party’s tradition whereas Rawat has been in favour of Congress declaring its chief minister face ahead of polls. 

    Asked about Rawat’s differences with Yadav, the PCC chief said taking everyone along is the responsibility of the party in charge.

  • Anatomy department professor of Srinagar Medical College in Uttarakhand caught stealing students’ mobile phones 

    By Online Desk

    DEHRADUN: The curious case of a professor stealing mobile phones from his students has come to light at Srinagar Medical College in Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand.

    The theft reportedly came to light when CCTV footages showed him stealing the mobile phone of an MBBS student while the latter was writing an exam.

    When the student complained that his mobile phone, kept outside the examination hall, had been stolen, the head of the department requested authorities to scan the CCTV footage. The examination of CCTV footage showed the professor stole the device.

    The professor hails from Bihar and serves in the anatomy department of the college.

    The Times of India quoted the principal of the college Dr CMS Rawat as saying, “A team searched the professor’s room and found to their surprise almost a dozen other stolen mobile phones in his possession.”

    Even as an investigation is on, the professor had denied stealing the mobile phones.

  • Mood Sombre in CDS Bipin Rawat’s native village in Uttarakhand

    Express News Service

    DEHRADUN: Bharat Singh Rawat, a distant relative of India’s first Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Singh Rawat, recalls the day when people of the Saina village celebrated the latter’s elevation as CDS after he retired as the Army chief, on January 1, 2020. 

    As the news of the demise of General Rawat demise, his wife and 11 others reached the village, an air of gloom engulfed the village. 

    Bharat Singh Rawat (62), a distant uncle of the CDS, said, “This is shocking for all of us. He was not only our pride but the pride of the nation too. Cruel fate has halted his glorious journey. Many still don’t believe this tragic news.”

    Saina village, the native village of General Rawat, is approximately 80 km from Kotdwar, the district headquarters of Pauri district. The village is now mourning with no cooking for Wednesday. The villagers will also stop the consumption of certain delicacies including the use of oil and salt as part of the mourning rituals. 

    The CDS had visited his native village after taking over as chief of Army Staff in the year 2016 and also in May 2018.

    “He told me during his May 2018 visit that he wanted to build a house near mine. He had to walk for over a km to get here and told me that he would request the government to build a motorable road connecting the village,” recalled Singh, who has served the Army in the capacity of havildar. 

    ALSO READ | Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, 12 others confirmed dead in TN chopper crash

    General Rawat had written to the state government earlier regarding the construction of a road as one has to walk for over one kilometre from the main road to reach Saina.

    According to the 2011 census, the village has two households and five people. Among them, three are male and two female. Interestingly, there are no children in the village which is part of the Birmoli Gram Sabha in the Pauri district.

    Mansi Devi, the Gram Pradhan, said, “We looked up to him as an eternal source of inspiration. For us, he was a father figure, a strong man who lives by ideals and inspires others to do well in life as well as contribute to nation-building.”

    As the news of the Mi-17 chopper crash came, the residents of the hamlet and the nearby villages started praying. 

    General Rawat during a visit to his native village (Photo | EPS)

    Meanwhile, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and people from all corners of the state had expressed their wishes and offered prayers for his well being along with others. 

    Later, as the news of demise came in, the mood in the state became sombre across the state. Condolences started pouring in.

    CM Dhami, Governor Lieutenant (Retd) General Gurmit Singh along with many others took it to Twitter and other social media platforms to express their condolences. 

    “Son of the Soil…From Pauri Uttarakhand… General & Mrs Madhulika had graced Uttarakhand Sthapana Divas on 9th November 2021at Dehradun, just recently… Remembered beautiful moments of our professional life…Rest in Eternal Peace…Waheguru, Our Prayers…,” the Governor Tweeted. 

    “It is deeply painful for all of us to learn about the unfortunate demise of the honorable CDS General Bipin Rawat. He devoted his life to the nation. I express my condolences to his family and the whole nation,” said Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. 

  • AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal promises free pilgrimage scheme for people of Uttarakhand

    By PTI

    DEHRADUN: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday promised to introduce a free pilgrimage scheme for people of different communities in Uttarakhand if the Aam Aadmi Party comes to power in the state.

    Under the free pilgrimage scheme, Hindus will be sent to Ayodhya, Muslims to Ajmer Sharif and the Sikhs to Kartarpur Sahib, he announced at a press conference in Haridwar.

    “We have introduced a free pilgrimage scheme for the elderly in Delhi under which they are taken in the comfort of AC trains for free to 12 different pilgrimage destinations all over the country including Haridwar.

    Their food, lodging and stay is all free,” the AAP national convener said.

    As many as 36,000 people have already availed of the scheme so far, he said.

    Kejriwal said a train will start from Delhi on December 3 to take people to Ayodhya for free.

    “A similar free pilgrimage scheme for people in Uttarakhand will be introduced if we are voted to power in the state,” Kejriwal said.

    “Hindus will be taken to Ayodhya under the scheme, Muslims to Ajmer Sharif and Sikhs to Kartarpur Sahib which was opened recently,” the AAP leader said.

    Kejriwal asserted that the AAP is the first party in the country to focus on the problems faced by common people.

    “Our emphasis on good hospitals, good schools and good roads shows our focus is on common people,” he said.

    Kejriwal also held a meeting with autorickshaw drivers in Haridwar and promised to address their problems as he had done in Delhi if the AAP forms the government in the state.

    “I will work like your elder brother. Your problems are now my responsibility,” he said, adding that autorickshaw drivers in Haridwar have to struggle on a daily basis to make ends meet.

    The autorickshaw drivers of Delhi are admirers of the AAP and played a vital role in its victory, he said.

    Kejriwal has been promising freebies to the people of Uttarakhand which goes to polls early next year.

    He had promised free electricity for farmers and up to 300 units to every household at no cost during one of his earlier visits to Uttarakhand.