On the third day of the Vidhan Sabha Budget session, some political parties, including Uttarakhand Kranti Dal and Uttarakhand Nav Nirman Mazdoor Sangh (UNNMS) supported by Communist Party of India and other bodies took out separate protest rallies to the assembly building in support of their respective demands.
While UKD gheraoed the Assembly, protesting against the State government’s anti-people policies UNNMS activists, on the other hand, gathered at Parade Ground and took out a rally while shouting anti-State government slogans.
Dozens of UKD members assembled at its party office at Court Road and rallied upto Vidhan Sabha. They were stopped at the barricade at Rispana Bridge. Police faced verbal arguments and tussle from the agitators when they tried to break the barricade where heavy policemen were deployed by the administration to maintain law and order. later, they sat on demonstration and shouted slogans. Speakers alleged that Congress- led State government is only making popular announcements, reducing it to a government of announcements. The government has failed to fulfill the expectations of the common people, they said, adding that corruption is rampant. They demanded Gairsain be made the State capital, alleging that the State government is not serious. Moreover, they cited the pitiable plight of the farmers who are facing drought this year due to scanty rainfall. The State government is sleeping while the farmers are suffering, they said. The UKD activists submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister through administrative officer.
At another remove, UNNMS activists assembled at Parade Ground and took out a rally. State CPI leader Samar Bhandari said that children of registered labourers should be given scholarship on time. Such scholarship should be distributed once in six months, he said. Separate staff should be appointed in labour department for the welfare of the labourers, he further said, adding that health cards should be provided to the labourers. Daily wagers are not getting their wages timely due to contractors refusing to clear them, the CPI leader said, demanding corrective actions from the State government.
This aside, some students led by Kamlesh Bhatt took out a rally from Parade Ground to Vidhan Sabha against Uttarakhand Technical Education Council, alleging irregularities in the examination of Group C post code 56. They demanded fair inquiry over this issue and examination be cancelled.
Uttarakhand State Formation Identification Activist Manch staged a rally too to the Vidhan Sabha, demanding uniform pension for statehood activists and 10 per cent horizontal reservation in government jobs for them. They were stopped at the barricade at Rispana Bridge. They sat on demonstration there.