Monday, 29 January 2024 | PNS | HALDWANI
Members of various political, social and cultural organisations along with the general public took out a large rally in support of the demands for 1950 as the cut off year for domicile status and a strict land law in Uttarakhand here in Haldwani on Sunday. The Mool Niwas Bhu Kanoon Samanvay Sangharsh Samiti, which organised the rally, said that thousands of people from different parts of the State attended the rally.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the coordinator of the organising committee Mohit Dimri said that 23 years after its creation, Utarakhand which achieved statehood after more than 40 activists lost their lives, is still struggling with an identity crisis. More than two decades after creation of the State, the natives have not been able to get their justified rights. The situation has deteriorated to such an extent that the natives are now being relegated to the position of second class citizens in their own State, he alleged. “It is very important to implement 1950 as the cut off year for domicile status and enact a strict land law in the State. The issue of domicile is related to the identity of Uttarakhand and the future of its people. The future of Uttarakhand is not secure without winning the fight for domicile,” he said.
Joint coordinator of the committee Lusun Todariya said that it is essential to make 1950 the cut off year for domicile status and bring a strict land law to ensure
that the rights of the natives of Uttarakhand are secure. The youths of the State are today facing the problem of unemployment, he added.
Pahadi Army founder Harish Rawat said that the manner in which the rights of the natives are being ended, the natives will soon face an identity crisis. The speakers said that there will be serious consequences if the government doesn’t act according to public sentiment on the issues of domicile and strict land law. They said that the movement in support of these demands is receiving resounding support across the State. The large number of people attending the Haldwani rally after the rally held in Dehradun on December 24 clearly shows that the people of Uttarakhand are prepared for a decisive fight for their rights, cultural identity and existence, they said.
The organisers said that the plan of action to further expand this movement will be announced soon. Dimri said that a public awareness campaign will be started across the State, adding that the committee will organise various programmes in a phased manner which will also include interacting with the youths in villages and universities in the State.
