An impressive state-level rally was held by the CPI(ML) in Dehradun on 5 November to protest against the State Government’s failure to fulfil the aspirations of the people of the new state. The rally’s charter of demands included implementation of pro-poor land reforms, implementation of Land Ceiling Act, pro-people environment protection policy and smaller Hydro-electric projects, BPL cards to all agricultural labourers, people’s rights over natural resources, education and employment to all, inclusion of the Bangla speaking community of the Namoshudra caste of the terai region in the scheduled caste list, rehabilitation of people displaced by the Tehri dam project, ban on liquor sale in the state, halting of the privatisation drive, declaration of Gairsain instead of Dehradun as the State capital, punishment to the perpetrators of police atrocities at Khatima, Mussourie and Muzaffarnagar during the Uttarakhand movement, besides many other demands.
Hundreds of agrarian labourers, peasants, students, youth and women thronged the state capital to march in the rally which was the concluding event of the month-long ‘Save Democracy, Save Uttarakhand’ campaign which was organised by the Party against the ND Tiwari Govt’s misrule. A memorandum was sent to the President through the State Governor.
The rally was led by the Party’s CC member Prabhat Kumar, while CC member and incharge of Uttarakhand, Rajendra Pratholi was the chief guest. The incharge of the Uttarakhand Leading Team, Raja Bahuguna, was the main speaker. Com. Raja Bahuguna reminded the audience of present Chief Minister ND Tiwari’s role during the Uttarakhand movement, when he had staunchly opposed the struggle for a separate state. Previously, the BJP Government had distorted the very concept of a hill state by altering its geographical boundaries, and refusing to make Gairsain its capital as demanded by the people. He appealed to all left and democratic forces in the state to unite against the politics of Congress and the BJP to provide a strong and viable alternative, simultaneously criticizing those organisations and parties who are unable to shed their leaning towards the Congress, as well as those of an anarchist persuasion, abstaining from elections and ultimately helping this or that bourgeois alliance.
The state government’s harassment of CPI(ML) leaders in the name of tackling ‘Maoism’, as well as the local media’s mischievous branding of ‘Maoism’ and ‘Naxalism’ as anti-national was also vehemently condemned in the rally.
The rally was also addressed by CPI(ML) State Committee members Kailash Pandey, Girija Pathak, Purushottam Sharma, KK Bora, Bahadur Singh Jangi and AIALA Secretary Sanjay Sharma. AISA State President Indresh Maikhuri conducted the meeting.