The Congress has accorded final touches to its preparations for the large rally it plans to take out to the Chief Minister’s residence on Saturday demanding regularisation of slums and ownership rights for slum dwellers. According to party sources, thousands of protesters will gather at Parade Ground at 10 AM from where they will head under Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Pritam Singh’s leadership to the Chief Minister’s residence. The PCC chief chaired a meeting with senior party members at the Congress Bhawan regarding preparations for the protest rally.
The Dehradun Superintendent of police (City) and other police officers also met the PCC chief and sought details of the programme. Singh also discussed the protest strategy with party workers. He exhorted all the Congress party members to participate in the rally in large numbers to protest against the “anti-poor” policies of the State Government.
It is pertinent to mention here that as per the court orders, the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun had issued notices to about 10,000 slum dwellers found to be encroaching on the banks of Rispana and Bindal rivers. However, following opposition of the dwellers supported by pressure from some MlAs and politicians, the Government brought in an ordinance to provide some temporary relief to the slum dwellers. Not to be left behind, the Congress is planning the protest on Saturday as a show of strength. Announcements are being made in slums exhorting the dwellers to participate in the rally.
Additionally, various Congress leaders also met the slum dwellers and exhorted them to attend the protest rally in large numbers against the “harassment” of the people by the Government.