Various public movements were undertaken in the past or are still continuing in different parts of Uttarakhand on issues related to development and environment among others. However, successive State Governments have ignored the issues raised by these public movements. Save Himalaya Movement (SHM) member Sameer Raturi, who had undertaken a month-long hunger strike against stone crushers in Maletha, said that the State Government should issue a white paper on the actions taken in cognisance of various prominent public movements. If this is not done in a month, the SHM will hold Satyagrah in support of its demand.
Addressing the media Raturi said that the people of Uttarakhand have undertaken movements in support of the demand for construction of roads and bridges, for creation of district and Tehsil, for opening of school campus, against illegal mining, against anomalies in disaster relief works, against the liquor mafia and for making Gairsain the permanent State capital of Uttarakhand.
He said, “The youth and villagers in the mountainous regions of the State are very disappointed. Corrupt people in power are colluding with the mafia to further fuel migration from the mountains so that the land vacated by migrating natives can be exploited for various commercial purposes. We want to know why the State Government has remained silent and inactive regarding the various ongoing public movements. Till when will the people continue to agitate even for basic facilitiesIJ The government should honour its answerability and issue a white paper on its position regarding the issues raised in these public movements,” he said. Raturi said that Save Himalaya Movement will give the State Government one month to come out with a white paper on its stance failing which it will start a non-violent agitation in the State.