Discontent Brews In Uttarakhand

Turmoil and Uttarakhand seem to be going hand in hand for quite some time now. The state that was born out of an agitation continues to see public anger at the political class’ failure to realise their aspirations.

The phenomenon was once again on display in Dehradun in a ‘Uttarakhand Mool Niwas Swabhiman Maharally’. There were a large number of people there who expressed demands related to the cutoff date for domicile status of the residents, and also a stringent law for protecting the precious land resource of the state.

There is a demand to make January 26, 1950 as the cutoff date for the domicile status. The second is for a stringent law to be enacted, to prevent ‘outsiders’ from purchasing large tracts of land in the predominantly hill state. Along with this is the most important issue of jobs for locals.

While the large turnout of the people across the political and social spectrum on these issues is being peddled as the ‘second statehood agitation’, there are layers that need to be taken into account. The rational thinkers have pointed out the long term ramifications of such demands and mobilisations.

To begin with, it is being pointed out that the demand of the cutoff year being 1950 is ‘extreme’. This is so because the state, particularly the Terai has settlers who came from West Punjab and East Bengal after the Partition of the country in 1947. Others came and settled in the region when it was a part of Uttar Pradesh, till a new state was carved out in 2000.

“How can you isolate and alienate almost half of your population?” is the question being raised. Reports point out that the year 2000 has been accepted as the cutoff year even by the courts and the then state government.

It is the second issue of land that is more serious, and contentious, one particularly when the country is heading towards the next Lok Sabha polls.

It needs to be underlined that Uttarakhand has had several ‘sociological’ fault lines. This is reflected in hills versus plains, Garhwal versus Kumaon, Thakurs versus Brahmins and now locals versus outsiders, classifications.

It is while taking this into account that the Left parties, CPI, CPI-M and CPI-ML, came out with a guarded and rational view on the contentious issues raised at the Dehradun event on Sunday as they pointed out that they need to be looked at, understood and resolved with utmost understanding.

“There is no doubt that the indigenous people of any state have the first right on the resources, water, forest, land. Even in state appointments, first priority should be given to the natives of that state. But wrapping the demand for restoration of original habitat in the cloak of ‘mountains-plains’ and ‘outsider-insider’ is an attempt to create blind regionalist frenzy.

“It may bring cheap popularity to some people, but it cannot secure the interests of the large population of the state, in whose name efforts are being made to raise the issue of blind regionalism.

“The line between protecting regional interests or the interests of a state and jingoistic regionalism is very thin. It is regrettable that efforts are being made to find solutions to extremely sensitive issues of the state through blind regionalist frenzy. If the blind regionalist frenzy does not address the plundering of resources like water, forest and land by big capital in the state, rather it turns its back on it.

“Amidst the state's resources being usurped by big capital, if small businesses, people coming into business and jobs start being presented as big enemies, then it can be understood whose interest it will ultimately serve,” the Left parties said in a joint statement.

Observers say that the developments need to be seen in context of the scams that have surfaced in connection with the government jobs, leaking of exam papers and the spiralling unemployment. “It is the frustration of the masses that is getting manifested through such demands,” said a senior political functionary of the state.

“On the issue of land law, we also believe that the campaign of unrestricted sale of lands in Uttarakhand, which was started by (former Chief Minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party) Trivendra Singh Rawat by getting the law passed in the assembly and carried forward by Pushkar Singh Dhami (the current CM), needs to be ended.

“It is surprising that the same BJP government which passed a law in the Assembly to sell the entire mountain land, also launched a campaign to create communal frenzy in the state by raising the issue of ‘Land Jihad’, the statement signed by Left leaders Samar Bhandari, Rajendra Singh Negi and Indresh Maikhuri said.

Senior Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana told The Citizen that, “The Congress government under N. D. Tewari was the first to introduce a land reform in the state in 2003, when outsiders were allowed to purchase 500 square yards of non agricultural land for residential purposes.

“The subsequent BJP government under Major General (Retired) B. C. Khanduri had reduced it to 250 square yards. Those seeking land for industrial and commercial purposes were required to seek permission from the state government and if the said land was found to be used for any other purpose than the one state, the government had the power to wrest it back.

“It was under Trivendra Rawat in 2018 that the ceiling on land was done away with and even sale of agricultural land was allowed for investment purposes but the clause on use of land for the specified purpose remained. This clause too was done away by Pushkar Singh Dhami in 2021. I believe that the law enacted by the Tewari government was the most appropriate one as it prevented a free run by the land mafia.

“The BJP government should shun hypocrisy and withdraw all changes that were introduced during its rule if it is really keen on protecting the interests of the people and the state.”

Interestingly, on December 23 when the mobilisation for Sunday’s Dehradun event was underway, the government stated that Dhami had ordered the constitution of a high-level committee to act on the recommendations of a previously constituted land laws committee in the larger interest of the state.

“This committee will provide its recommendations to the government regarding the draft of the land law to be implemented by the state government as well as determining the standards regarding the issuing of the domicile certificate,” a government spokesperson said.

He added that after being appointed as the chief minister of the state Dhami had constituted a high-level committee to deliberate and provide its recommendations to the government. This was to be done after considering the balance between the requirement of land for industrial development works in the state, and the conservation of land available, keeping in mind that development works should not be affected.

This committee had prepared a nearly 80-page report after in-depth discussions, and by inviting suggestions from the interested parties, organisations and institutions. Apart from this, the committee also examined the details of land purchase approvals given so far in the state from all the District Magistrates.

The committee included such points in its recommendations which would increase investment for development and employment opportunities. The committee also recommended stopping unnecessary misuse of land. Dhami has claimed that for him the interest of the state is paramount.

Meanwhile, the Left parties have claimed that, “the announcement of the Dhami government to form another committee after a year to examine the report of a committee constituted for land law is ridiculous and an eyewash.

“The first need is to repeal the amendments made in the land law in 2018. There should be a ban on purchase of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes. Special measures need to be taken to make mountain agriculture profitable by protecting it from the terror of wild animals.

“Uttarakhand needs comprehensive land reforms. For this, immediate land settlement is required. There is a need to distribute land to the landless that comprise the majority of the Dalit population in the hilly areas, followed by consolidation.

“Uttarakhand is struggling with unemployment, plunder of employment opportunities, migration and plunder of resources, for which government policies are responsible. Resources are being looted by big capital.

“Instead of choosing the hard and tough path of fighting against them, if the cheap path of outsider and insider is adopted, then it will definitely create a sensation but will not lead to a solution and in a way it will only help the plundering power and the big capital that is the beneficiary of the loot.”

Many see the Dehradun event as just a beginning. Observers and political pundits are keeping their fingers crossed on the political fallout of these issues on the onset of Lok Sabha polls.