THE DEMAND TO MAKE GAIRSEN IS ALRIGHT FOR HILL PEOPLE. BUT WE HAVE TO
CONSIDER THE INTERESTS OF TERAI TOO. AS THE BENGALIES, THAROOS AND
BUKSHAS HAVE VERY SPECIAL PROBLEMS. WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THE ISSUE OF
CONNECTIVITY ALTOGETHER.
IT IS NOT EASY TO SHIFT THE CAPITAL AS IT IS.
PALASH BISWAS

Gairsen.....Gairsen
Fast unto Death in Gairsen by Dr. Uma Bhatt and Srimati
Bhooma
Devi is a drastic decision by Uttarakhand Mahila Manch. The move
comes close on the heels of the sad demise of Baba Mohan
Uttarakhandi, who sacrificed his life on 9th August 2004.
It is shameful that Uttaranchal Government is not paying heed
to
the basic demands of Uttarakhand movement. Four years have elapsed
since the state came into existence, but culprits of horrendous
Muzaffarnagar incident are roaming freely. The question of the
permanent capital of Uttaranchal has not yet been resolved
subsequent upon which the activists are impatient to redeem their
fetters of patience.
The Cabinet Committee which was constituted before the
Uttarakhand Movement in 1994 gave its verdict in favour of Gairsen
after wide consultations with different segments of society. The
tilt was towards Gairsen because of its central location in
Uttaranchal. It is intriguing and a matter of surprise for the
people that B.J.P. led government at the centre did not put the
provision of a capital in U.P Reorganisation Act 2000.This issue
of permanent importance was left to the wisdom of the new state to
decide. The caretaker B.J.P. Govt. of Uttaranchal and then the
elected govt. under the leadership of Mr. Narayan Dutt Tewari,
instead of declaring Gairsen as the capital, constituted another
commitee to settle this problem under the presidentship of retired
justice Virendra Dixit. Justice Dixit has not yet given his final
report to the govt., but has confirmed that the peoples' first
choice is Gairsen and this site is geologically safe.
Activists right through the state are agitating on this
issue.
On 9th August 2004, on the 38th day of his hunger strike Baba
Mohan Uttarakhandi demanding Gairsen as the capital, died in
Karnprayag in police custody, after he was forcibly removed from
Benital, where he was fasting. His untimely death added fuel to
fire and the two ladies, Dr. Uma Bhatt, who is a Reader in Hindi
Deptt. in Kumaun University and is editor of women's magazine
'Uttara' and Srimati Bhooma Devi, who is a social worker in
Gairsen, have started fast unto death from 2nd October, which
incidently happens to be the 10th anniversary of infamous
Muzaffarnagar incident.
We appeal to you that if you support this cause of
Uttarakhand
activists, please send letters/Fax of support to the C.M. of
Uttaranchal and ask him to accept the demands of these women
activists.You can hold meetings, circulate letters and mobilise
the people for this noble cause. If you do not support Gairsen as
the capital of Uttarakhand, still you can appeal to Mr. Narayan
Dutt Tewari to resolve this matter immediately and save the lives
of the activists.
Hope you will not muffle your voice at this moment of crisis.

Girish Tewari 'Girda'
Rajiv Lochan Sah
Poet and cultural activist
Editor, Naini Tal Samachar

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