IN BRIEF

Lakhs take dip in the Ganga on Ram Navami

Nearly 10 lakh devotees took a dip in the Ganga here on the occasion of Ram Navami amid tight security. According to official sources, devotees had started arriving at the different ghats in this town, which is hosting the Maha Kumbh this year, for a dip on the holy occasion. They said that nearly 10 lakh persons had taken bath in the Ganga till the evening.

'No discrimination in identification of statehood activists'

Uttarakhand government has denied any discrimination while identifying activists involved in numerous agitations for separate statehood demand before the state came into being. While replying to a motion moved during Zero Hour, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant told the assembly that the process of identification of statehood activists is in progress and more activists would be included in the list. Pant, however, also denied allegations by Rana and other Congress members that government is not issuing Identity Cards to activists associated with opposition parties.

The minister said anybody who fits the bill under the criteria is being issued ID card. 78 activists have already been issued such cards, he added.

139 places ‘sensitive’

A total of 139 places have been identified as sensitive from security point of view in Uttarakhand and strict vigil is being maintained in these areas, the state Assembly was informed. In reply to a question, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant said the sensitive places across the state have been classified into four categories depending upon the level of sensitivity. As many as 22 places have been included in category A, 25 in category B, 40 in category C and 52 in others, he said, adding the state police is maintaining strict vigil in the areas with the help of Special Operations Group at district level and Special Task Force at state level. In this regard, he said a total of 12,675 police officials and jawans have been deputed for the purpose.

State ready to host winter SAF games

The Uttarakhand government said the state was ready to host the first winter SAF Games and it schedule was changed by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). IOA changed the programme of first SAF winter games, which were scheduled in January this year due to 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka (Bangladesh) from Jan 29, 2010 till February 9 and the 21st Winter Olympic Games in Canada from February 12, 2010 till February 28, 2010, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prakash Pant informed the state assembly while replying to a question by Pritam Singh of Congress. He, however, added that all preparations have been made in this regard and the state was ready to host first SAF winter games.