Celebrate the Silver Jubilee Only After Relaxing the Identification Norms for Statehood Activists: Jansangharsh Morcha
Thousands of activists still deprived of official recognition
Strict criteria obstructing the identification process
Native residents have suffered the most
Vikasnagar: Jansangharsh Morcha President and former GMVN Vice Chairman Raghunath Singh Negi, while addressing a press conference, said that the government is enthusiastically preparing to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of Uttarakhand’s formation, but the real purpose behind the creation of the state remains unfulfilled. The people of the state, especially the activists who fought for its formation, still feel deceived. Negi stated that those very activists, because of whose sacrifices the state was formed, have been deprived of recognition due to stringent identification norms. The government has laid down five criteria for identifying statehood activists — FIR or jail/arrest certificate during the movement, medical certificate of injury sustained during the movement, verification by the District Magistrate, LIU (Local Intelligence Unit) report, and police case diary. Many dedicated activists who actively participated in the movement still lack the required documentation, and hence remain unrecognized. Negi further said that the dream envisioned by the people and the activists was shattered when individuals who weren’t even capable of becoming a village head (Pradhan) became ministers, chief ministers, MLAs, and MPs, while cunning individuals, who wouldn’t even qualify for a fourth-class position, secured high posts through money and political connections. On the other hand, talented and educated youth are struggling to find jobs worth even ₹8,000–₹10,000 a month. He added that in these 25 years, jobs have been sold, corruption has engulfed the entire state, goons and mafias have gained dominance, and due to inefficient ministers and MLAs, bureaucratic control has increased. The poor remain deprived of basic facilities like education and healthcare.
Negi emphasized that the native residents of Uttarakhand have suffered the most — land that should have been worth ₹10–20 lakh per bigha is now selling for ₹2–3 crore per bigha, forcing displaced locals to buy their own land at exorbitant prices. Negi warned that if the government does not soon relax the identification norms, the Morcha will launch an agitation.
Present at the press conference: Morcha General Secretary Aakash Panwar and Vijay Ram Sharma.
