Tuesday, 23 August 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
Harish Rawat, senior leaders of congress hold symbolic fast at Gandhi Park
Alleging manhandling and misconduct by Pauri Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) with a Youth Congress leader, the Uttarakhand Congress has demanded that the State government should take punitive action against the SDM. Youth Congress leader Nitin Bisht was allegedly manhandled, abused and threatened by the SDM Pauri when he approached the SDM on the problems faced by the youngsters who had thronged the Tehsil for the certificates required for the ongoing Agniveer recruitment of Army.
When the video of the entire episode went viral, the Congress leadership of the state sprang into action. Former chief minister and Congress Working Committee (CWC) Harish Rawat sat on a one hour symbolic fast at Gandhi Park in Dehradun on the issue. Senior leaders of the Uttarakhand Congress attended the protest.
Speaking on the occasion, Rawat said that the behaviour of the SDM Pauri highlights the mentality of the BJP government which is doing every bit to muzzle the voice of opposition. He claimed that the Agniveer scheme would prove to be very harmful for Uttarakhand as thousands of youngsters get recruited in the armed forces.
The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Karan Mahara said the officers have become despotic on the patronage of the government. He threatened that the Congress workers would launch a massive protest if the SDM is not penalised by the government. Former PCC president Pritam Singh demanded action against the SDM for the high headed behaviour with the youth Congress leader. Former PCC president Ganesh Godiyal said that it appears that the Central and State governments are determined to make a mockery of democracy. He alleged that the administration was only making the certificates of the aspirants who were close to local BJP leaders which created resentment among the aspirants. Badrinath MLA Rajendra Bhandari said the Pauri SDM should be immediately suspended. The deputy leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Bhuwan Kapdi said that the behaviour of the SDM is highly inappropriate and totally inacceptable.
The president of the National Students Union of India (NSUI) Mohan Bhandari said the Agniveer scheme is a mockery of the unemployed youngster and the Congress party is standing with the unemployed youths.
Former MLA Rajkumar and a large number of Congress leaders and workers attended the fast.
