PNS | DEHRADUN
Several activists and locals began a hunger strike at the Shaheed Smarak in court premises in Dehradun on Tuesday. They demanded a strict land law and permanent resident status for the State’s local people, the convenor of the Uttarakhand Mool Niwas Bhu Kanoon Sangharsh Samiti, Mohit Dimri said. The activists arrived at the memorial and the police blocked their entry, leading to intense protests. Tensions flared as both sides clashed, with protesters chanting slogans against the State government.
In response, the police locked the gates of Shaheed Smarak, preventing further access. Despite the blockade, Dimri and his supporters began their hunger strike outside the gates, continuing their protest for a fair land law. Dimri criticised the State government’s handling of land law amendments and its lack of transparency in land deals made under the guise of investment. He demanded the immediate revocation of recent amendments and called for the public disclosure of land transaction details. He stated that the BJP government has shown no seriousness in enacting a strong land law, despite stating that a new law will be introduced in the upcoming budget session.
However, there is no clarity about what kind of law the government plans to bring, he said. He also expressed concern over the amendments made since 2018, particularly the removal of section 2, which has led to the inclusion of rural areas in urban zones, threatening agricultural land. Dimri warned that these changes could allow the encroachment of over 50,000 hectares of agricultural land. He called for the draft of the new land law to be made publicly available for review before it is passed in the assembly.
