Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has extended full support to the protest being planned by Uttarakhand natives living in Delhi on December 14. The Uttarakhand Ekta Manch is organising the demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi seeking representation of Uttarakhand natives in Delhi politics. Extending his support, Rawat said that he is requesting the Congress high command to also field Uttarakhand natives in the Delhi Assembly elections. Additionally, Congress workers from Uttarakhand are expected to reach Jantar Mantar for another protest planned on December 18 by the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee against the alleged apathy of the Central Government towards the State.
Regarding the December 14 demonstration, Rawat said that the Congress believes in democratically according representation to all in politics. He expressed dissatisfaction at the political apathy being faced by the lakhs of Uttarakhand natives living in Delhi. "All political parties should ensure the involvement of Uttarakhandis in their political processes. I will also request the Congress high command to field Uttarakhand natives in the Assembly polls in Delhi," said Rawat. The CM said that the role of Uttarakhandis in the development of Delhi and the nation should be ascertained as they have played important roles in defending the nation and various other spheres, even establishing various records at the national and international levels.
According to the Uttarakhand Rajya Nirman Andolankari Samman Parishad vice-chairman Dhirendra Pratap, more than 20 lakh Uttarakhandis are living in Delhi. The demonstration being organised in Delhi on December 14 is in support of the demand for all parties to provide 10 per cent Assembly election tickets to Uttarakhand natives in the Delhi Assembly polls.
Meanwhile, Uttarakhand PCC spokesman Anshul Shree Kunj accused the five lok Sabha MPs from Uttarakhand of failing to raise the State's issues in Parliament. "The Centre has remained apathetic towards Uttarakhand with action on many of the State's demands pending. Preparations are underway for the protest on December 18 in which thousands of Congress members from Uttarakhand will participate," he said.