After years Uttarakhand was witness to a massive turnout by any left force when on 30 May 1997, an Uttarakhand level rally of CPI(ML) was organised at Almora. Among those who spoke at the public meeting held at the end of the rally were CPI(ML) incharge in Uttarakhand, Raja Bahuguna and AIPWA leader, Vidya Rajwar.

Delay in the formation of a separate state of Uttarakhand and the punishment of the guilty of the 1994 Muzaffarnagar carnage were the central issues of the rally. Apart from this other issues like prohibition, employment were also raised. Most of the political parties here are no longer serious in raising the demand for the punishment of the guilty of the Muzaffarnagar carnage. Unless and until the guilty were punished women in Uttarakhand, who formed the backbone of the movement, could not be taken to a higher plane of struggle.

Before the rally, padyatras were taken out from various places in Uttarakhand to propagate to the people the game being played by various political parties here - which are present in the government at the centre or in Lucknow - in the name of forming a separate state. A call was also given for once again coming out on the streets of Uttarakhand and also march to Delhi with the demand for immediate fulfillment of the promise by the UF government for a separate state.