Scores of journalists protested outside the Press Club in Dehradun on Friday, accusing Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and finance minister Indira Hridayesh of interfering in the Press Club election. They burnt the effigy of the CM as part of the protest with chief secretary S Ramaswamy later ordering a magisterial inquiry into the lathi charge on journalists.  Haridwar CDO Maharban Singh Bisht will conduct magisterial inquiry over this issue with instructions to submit the report within 10 days. According to the district administration when one of the protesters purportedly threw ink on deputy manager of Firms Society and Chits, Manish Kumar Upreti, the police resorted to lathi charge on journalists including former press club president Yogesh Bhatt, former general secretary Vishwajeet Singh Negi and others. later the journalists also sat on demonstration outside the chief minister’s residence. 

Amid protests by some members of Uttranchal Press Club, election was held on Friday. Out of 48 voters, 33 voters had participated in the electoral process. Navin Thaledi was declared ‘elected’ to the post of president with 33 votes. He secured 30 votes and defeated Satish Sharma who secured three votes. Other office bearers of the body were elected unopposed. The victorious candidates included Thaledi met chief minister on Friday evening. However, former president Yogesh Bhatt emphasised that the election was completely illegal. “It was not even notified. Officials had not properly advertised about election process through print and electronic media. The role of the district magistrate, registrar and CO, Dalanwala police station in-charge appears dubious. About eight journalists were injured in the police lathi-charge,” said Bhatt, while adding that he would meet the CM regarding the issue.