Change the govt in Uttarakhand, Rahul tells youth

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi addresses
 an election meeting at Pithoragarh on Tuesday

Pithoragarh, January 24
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi today appealed to the youth to come forward to participate in politics and change the present political system of the state according to the needs of the country.

“The present political parties are in no mood to change the system as they get benefit out of this outdated system. Therefore, the youth is the only hope,” said Rahul Gandhi, addressing an election rally here today.

Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP Government of the state by blaming it for corrupt practices in the last five years, including misuse of funds released from the Centre for the development of the state.

“During the last five years, BJP did not feel the need of Khanduri, as the government and its leaders were involved in corruption, but the party now needs Khundari as it has to hide corruption before being ousted from the government this time,” said Rahul.

The Congress general secretary said that the Congress was a party of the poor of the country; it belonged to the poor, the backward classes, Dalits and minorities. It was also against corruption as the ministers

involved in corrupt practices have been jailed in Congress rule. “On the other side, the BJP gave shelter to its corrupt ministers in Karnataka, Punjab and in Uttarakhand and has now given shelter to corrupt ministers of Mayawati,” said the Congress general secretary.

“if I share meals with Dalits at their homes, the BJP people object. But if they create the slogan of ‘India shining’ from AC rooms, they think it in positive tone for the country,” said Rahul.

Rahul Gandhi said that it was the Congress which laid the foundation stone of development in Uttarakhand state as the people believed in it just after the state was carved out. “The party not only established industries in the state to give employment to lakhs of youths from the state but has now approved its linking with railway lines. “On the other hand, the BJP is always busy indulging in corrupt practices,” alleged Rahul.

The Congress general secretary elaborated the achievements of the Congress at the Centre and said that it is the party totally devoted to empower the common people by providing security in their basic needs.

“After waiving Rs 60,000 crore loan of poor farmers of the country and empowering them, the party has brought MNREGA, right to education, and would now bring food security Bill to make the poor of the country free from the basic problems of life,” said the Congress general secretary. 

BJP govt failed to use Central funds: Pranab Mukherjee

Dehradun, January 24

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today squarely blamed the BJP government in Uttarakhand for failing to use Central funds for the development of the state. He also held the BJP government responsible for instability in the region due to which there had been five Chief Ministers during its seven-year rule in the state.

Pranab told mediapersons in Dehradun that despite huge Central aid, the Uttarakhand government had not been able to spend the funds for the welfare of the people. “A staggering Rs 2,971 crore has been given to the state in the last seven years. Besides, Rs 2,185 crore for human resource development, Rs 1,402 crore for health and family welfare and Rs 1,517 crore for road transport and highways have been provided to the state in the same period,” Mukherjee said, adding that the state government failed to use the funds for the development of the state.

He said the BJP government was not even clear whether it should favour hydroelectric projects or not. “The Uttarakhand Government on the one hand calls for increasing power generation and on the hand it supports those who are protesting against the construction of hydropower projects in the state,” Pranab said, referring to the Pala Maneri project that was scrapped by the Centre after several groups opposed it.

Pranab also asked the BJP to explain what compelled it to change Chief Ministers so many times. “By changing five chief ministers in seven years the BJP has given instability to Uttarakhand,” he said.

The Union minister said the industrial package given to the state could not be extended further as it would lead to regional disparity. “It has been noticed that some industries from the neighbouring regions are shifting to Uttarakhand to avail concessions,” he said. He, however, added that the Centre was committed to industrialisation in Uttarakhand.

On Anna Hazare’s agitation for Jan Lokpal, Pranab said the Congress was committed to ending corruption. He held the Opposition responsible for the non-passage of the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament. “We don’t have the majority in the Rajya Sabha and thus cannot be held responsible for the non-passage of the Lokpal Bill. It was the Opposition that changed its stand on the issue,” he added.

Associate in-charge of the Uttarakhand Congress Anees Ahmed and vice-president of the state Congress Suryakant Dhasmana were also present on the occasion.

Uttarakhand awaiting Cong return to power: Girja Vyas

Dehradun, January 24

Former chairperson of the National Commission of Women and senior Congress leader Girja Vyas today said the people of Uttarakhand wanted a change and were anxiously awaiting the return of Congress government in the state.

Addressing a press conference in Dehradun today, Girja Vyas said the sole achievement of the BJP Government in Uttarakhand had been change of chief ministers. She said rampant corruption had taken place in BJP rule in Uttarakhand and revealed that a total of 419 cases of corruption had taken place in the state.

Vyas also took the opportunity to refer to the achievements of the UPA Government at the Centre. She said UPA had worked to weed out corruption in the country and work for the empowerment of women. She reminded Congress was committed to reservation for women and firmly believed that 33 per cent reservation for women in state Assemblies and the Lok Sabha was the best way to ensure women’s empowerment.

She also asserted that Congress will fulfil each and every promise made in its manifesto if it was voted to power in the state. Uttarakhand head of intellectual cell DS Mann and state Congress vice president Suryakant Dhasmana were present at the news conference.

Ex-servicemen’s body to support Congress 

Dehradun, January 24

The Uttarakhand Purv Sainik Avam Ardh Sainik Sangathan has expressed anguish against the BJP government and announced of supporting Congress candidates on most of the seats, barring Harbans Kapoor, BJP candidate for the Cantt seat, Surender Jain of the BJP from Roorkie and Prakash Pant from Pithoragarh.

President of the organisation, Lt-Col Ganga Singh Rawat (retd) extended his support to Lt-General TPS Rawat (retd), president of Uttarakhand Raksha Morcha (URM) Kedar Singh Fonia, rebel BJP leader and now candidate from the URM for Badrinath seat Pushpesh Tripathi, MLA from the Uttarkhand Kranti Dal (P) and Pritam Singh of the UKD (P) for Yamunotri.

He said except these seats, his party would back the Congress on other Assembly constituencies. He, however, said they would oppose Congress candidates in Rajpur and Raipur as well.

The organisation would remain neutral in Rudrprayag and left it on the discretion of ex-servicemen to choose between Independents Luxmi Aggawal and Rakesh Negi from Sahaspur asserting that both candidates were always in touch with people of the area.

Rawat was miffed with the BJP over change of guard, Chief Ministers, in the state government. He also accused the party of indulging in number of scams and plundering the people’s money from exchequer.

He said despite evidence of funds siphoning off in the land grabbing case meant for poor section and village society to the state government, the latter kept mum. He said the state government was equal accomplice in looting the state with the mafia, the bureaucracy and public representatives.

He blamed the government for rendering the Soldier Welfare Ministry and UPNAL spineless.

No action in case of encroachment of land in the name of mother of Rifleman Jaswant Singh, winner of Mahavir Chakra, relentless employment to civilians meant for ex-servicemen and cut down in the health facilities were some of the reasons.