27

Feb

Need To Protect Distinct Identity Of Uttarakhand

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Today’s Editon

New Delhi, 27 February 2024

Vidya Bhushan Rawat

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Uttarakhand Hills are crying for the change in land laws but the government is busy making laws that violate the privacy of two adults. There are protests in the hills where locals feel a demographic change because of the way big bag people outside the state have invested and hijacked all the spaces through their investment. The resentment is growing but the issue is sought to be diverted through the events in Haldwani where violence erupted due to protests by locals on account of the bulldozing of a mosque and a madrasa by the authorities under the pretext that it was illegal.

 

Off late selective usage of bulldozers, in various north Indian states particularly ruled by BJP, has become a new norm. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has not been able to take note of it and issue categorical guidelines. Even if some structure is illegal, the person needs to be provided an opportunity to defend it. Secondly, how these illegal structures are allowed to be built needs to be investigated. Why can't action be taken against the officers under whose noose these structures grow? Will there be an accountability clause if an officer commits an unconstitutional act? No, it won't happen because it is the same class that frames our laws and they ensure they remain unaccountable. The failure of the Supreme Court to protect civil liberties and individual rights is extremely disturbing and dangerous.

 

There was a time when the constitution and law were used to protect individuals from being harassed and intimidated but today the law and procedures are the biggest weapon to punish you. We don't see any instrument that protects the individual when the state enacts laws to enter into your bedrooms.

 

Anyway, the point is that Uttarakhand's hill people always had the sentiment of their capital city in Gairsain town. It was the sentiment of the people ,and all political parties accepted it. The government created some infrastructure there which looks more like a resort than something useful for the people as most of the time, except for a few police personnel this remains closed.

The people of Uttarakhand should be congratulated on persistently seeking Gairsain as the capital city and not Dehradun but both netas and officers now habitual of big bungalows and luxuries of life would not like to move to a place that has 'little facilities'. I have visited the Vidhan Sabha Bhavan of Bharari Sain, near Gairsain and it has a beautiful location. On any sunny day, you face the stunning range of the Garhwal Himalayas.

 One wishes for a capital city, where our chief minister and his colleagues along with leaders of opposition parties, would walk without big vehicles, to the Vidhan Sabha and things are discussed in a peaceful way to resolve the issues of the people. But alas, politicians and bureaucrats have shown their true colours as they don't want to go to Gairsain under the pretext that it is extremely 'cold'' there. This is shameful, to say the least. A place that has the sentiment of hill people as the state capital is now being denied its right to host an event despite the fact the infrastructure is there. Now, what is the use of that infrastructure which has been created by investing crores of rupees? Is it just meant to host our mantras and vidhayaks, Babus and others to visit there in the summers so that you can enjoy the beautiful locale and soothing environment?

 

The crisis in Uttarakhand is serious. Its rivers and mountains are under threat. Locals are losing their faith as more and more outsiders are occupying important places in the names of resorts and hotels. The governments are least bothered. This year the state had less snowfall in the Himalayan region and it came very late. If the process of destruction in the name of development continues then we are heading for a serious crisis.

 

The Uttarakhand government must focus on bringing proper land laws that help the local communities and ensure the new domicile policy does not change its demographic structure. There will be further crisis and political upheaval when the delimitation of the seats happens. The plains are going to have more seats and political power than the hills because of their far bigger population. They already have financial and manpower. The dream of a different hill state will be nullified if these issues are not seriously debated and resolved. Countering or side-tracking the original issue of resentment among the hill people by creating new issues that have no meaning, will not resolve the crisis.

The Uttarakhand government and all political parties must resolve the issue of domicile and develop a land policy that does not change the demographic pattern in the hill districts. Remember, this is not a Hindu- Muslim issue but mostly to protect the distinct identity of the hill areas. Hence, the government must initiate dialogue with the people and bring a land law that can protect the interest of the hill people so that there is no resentment and unrest in the hills which are otherwise very peaceful.

(Words 880)

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