Uttarakhand Voters Raise Real Issues, BJP Plays Up Haldwani, UCC

Just ahead of the parliamentary polls, real issues are being raised by the voters of Uttarakhand, in the face of polarisation politics. The small state with five Lok Sabha seats has been witnessing a spate of agitations in the recent past.

On the other hand it has also witnessed the passing of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, promulgation of an anti-riot law, and the alleged misuse of administrative machinery in Haldwani following a riot after the demolition of a mosque and madrasa last month.

All this is being played up to the hilt by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. Meanwhile, a beleaguered Congress has failed to keep pace and counter the narratives.

The state has just witnessed a fortnight-long dharna at Srinagar Garhwal by the parents of Ankita Bhandari, a 19-year-old employee at a tourist resort in Yamkeshwar who had been allegedly murdered by Pulkit Arya and his two friends in September 2022. Pulkit is the son of BJP leader Vinod Arya who enjoyed a ministerial rank in the state government under Trivendra Singh Rawat.

His brother Ankit Arya had also enjoyed a ministerial rank in the present government. The father and son had been expelled from the party after a public outrage. The victim had reportedly refused to provide 'special services' to the clients at the behest of the hotel owner Pulkit.

The spat led to her allegedly being beaten up and thrown into Chilla Canal. While Pulkit and his friends had been arrested, there is still no update on who were the persons or alleged VIP for whom the ‘special services’ were being sought.

Ankita's parents, with the support of the local people, have been seeking justice for their daughter. Sources on the ground say that they are now planning to undertake a Nyay Yatra as well.

While the dharna was on, the authorities went on to arrest a local journalist Ashutosh Negi who had been actively involved in protests seeking justice in the murder case. Negi was arrested in an old case which the authorities reportedly said had nothing to do with the reportage of Arya’s murder.

Negi was granted bail by a court in Kotdwar on Wednesday. His arrest had sparked off protests in various places with the opposition accusing the Police of acting like a spokesperson of the ruling dispensation.

On the other hand the issue of rehabilitation of people impacted by the land subsidence in Joshimath continues to be alive. “Although the talks are on with the administration, things are yet to take a concrete shape,” social and political activist Indresh Maikhuri who is associated with the CPI (ML) said.

The concerned citizens and activists hold the state government responsible for the delay in implementing a comprehensive rehabilitation policy proposed by the Joshimath Bachao Sangharsh Samiti. They point out the 11 points on which even Dhami had agreed upon during discussions. The government on the other hand has been stating that it will ensure proper rehabilitation and relief to those affected by the land subsidence.

Amid all this it is the fallout of the violence witnessed in Haldwani last month that continues to assume centre stage of state politics. On one side there continue to be demands regarding a judicial probe into the violence that had erupted following the reported demolition of a madrasa in the Muslim dominated Banbhoolpura and on the other the BJP continues to build a strong narrative around it.

The Dhami government recently approved a stringent anti-riot (ordinance) law to provide for compensation for the entire loss caused during riots. According to a state government spokesperson, “Under this law, full recovery will be made from the rioters for causing damage to private and government property. Apart from this, a huge fine of up to Rs 8 lakh and expenses incurred on government staff and other work in riot control will also be compensated.”

He added, “In Devbhoomi, the Dhami government is writing a new story every day with tough and big decisions. After implementing the country's biggest anti-copying law and approving the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Cabinet passed the Uttarakhand Public (Government) and Recovery of Damage to Private Property (Ordinance) Act 2024 to stop the riots and deal with the rioters. With this law, those who cause damage to private and public property during disturbances like riots, riots, strikes, and bandhs in the state will no longer be able to escape.”

If the government registers a case against the rioters, action will be taken under the Uttarakhand Recovery of Damage to Public and Private Property Ordinance 2024. For this, the government has also duly approved a Claims Tribunal that will assess the losses.

There has been outrage over reported booking of people under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and alleged illegal confinements.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Secretary Radha Raturi a week after the incident more than 80 former bureaucrats had sought that compensation be provided immediately to those killed and injured, covering both government staff and local citizens. They had demanded, “The incident and subsequent actions by the administration be investigated in an impartial judicial enquiry (the current inquiry by the Kumaon Divisional Commissioner is insufficient to convey the appearance of impartiality). All allegations of illegal actions and violence, including illegal acts by government functionaries be impartially investigated.”

In addition to this the bureaucrats called for enforcement of Supreme Court orders regarding hate speech and mob violence. It was sought that the government take immediate steps to ensure that all its actions convey a message of security to all citizens of the state, regardless of religious community.

On Wednesday, a delegation of CPM visited Banbhoolpura. A member of the delegation disclosed, “After speaking to scores of people including families of those killed and injured, of those arrested, police personnel and journalists, the delegation demanded an impartial inquiry. It held the administration responsible for the events since it demolished a masjid and madrasa even while the case was being heard in court. A detailed report to the Governor is being sent which will be in the public domain soon.”

One of the team members Yusuf Tewari who is from Almora told this reporter, “There is palpable fear rampant among the residents of the locality. They are scared to speak out fearing they would be picked up and framed in a case. There are no communal feelings to be seen but the administrative terror can be easily gauged. The people to whom we talked pointed out the discrepancies in the Police claims and also alleged illegal confinement.”

Meanwhile, Dhami continues to play up the recent set of actions and decisions of his government. He tweeted on Thursday, “Uttarakhand is becoming the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code, realising the vision of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' of respected Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. Yesterday, Respected President Smt. Draupadi Murmu ji has given her approval to the UCC Bill.”

Dhami has been playing up the development of temples under the Manaskhand Mandir Mala Mission. He is also holding a spree of road shows across the state announcing sops ahead of the model code of conduct coming into force for the Lok Sabha polls.