Demanding release of funds for gram panchayats by the State Government, scores of Dehradun Gram Pradhan Sangathan members protested at the office of the chief development officer in Vikas Bhawan on Monday. The protesters assembled at the Parade Ground and rallied upto the CDO office in support of their demand.
The local administration had deployed adequate number of police personnel in view the protest by Gram Pradhans. However, traffic jams were faced on various roads of the State capital due to the protest on Monday.
A number of Gram Pradhans led by association district president Ram Singh Thapa assembled at Parade Ground and raised slogans against the state government while later marching to the CDO office.
The protesters had an argument with the police when they tried to lock the office of the chief development officer. The protesters sat on demonstration at the office and raised slogans against the state government. The protesters were arrested by the police and were released later in the day.
Thapa said that the gram pradhans are facing problems due to the State Government not issuing the government order regarding redressal of their demands. He alleged that state government had taken several steps in recent past wherein the financial power of gram pradhans had been seized.
The State Government is ignoring the role of gram pradhan which cannot be tolerated at any cost. He said that a delegation of association members had met with the political and government executives several times but their demands have not been redressed so far. Thapa warned that they will intensify their protest unless their demands are met.