By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 3 Nov: Participating in the special session of the State Assembly on Monday, Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya began his address by concurring with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal that the origins of the separate Uttarakhand movement could indeed be traced back to 1952. He said that the demand for a separate hill state had been a long-standing aspiration of the people, rooted in the need for distinct administrative attention to the region’s geographical and developmental challenges.
Arya praised the then Prime Minister, HD Deve Gowda for being the first to formally announce the Centre’s intention to create a separate Uttarakhand. He added that under the leadership of the then Home Minister, Indrajit Gupta, a blueprint for the new state was also prepared, but the formation could not materialise due to the fall of the Deve Gowda Government after losing majority support in Parliament. Recalling the sacrifices made during the statehood movement, Arya said that Uttarakhand’s statehood struggle had its own share of pain, violence, and martyrdom, citing the police firing incidents on agitationists in Khatima and Mussoorie as dark but unforgettable chapters in the history of the movement.
Arya lauded former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for fulfilling the dream of statehood by creating Uttarakhand, noting that the BJP at that time did not enjoy a majority in either the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha. He pointed out that the passage of the Uttar Pradesh Reorganisation Bill was made possible only through the cooperation and support of the Congress Party.
Arya devoted a large part of his speech to recalling the achievements of former Chief Minister Narayan Dutt Tiwari, under whose leadership Uttarakhand witnessed a period of accelerated industrialisation and economic growth. He said that Tiwari’s vision, administrative experience, and ability to attract large-scale investment gave the young state a strong developmental foundation.
However, Arya sharply criticised the present government, alleging that law and order, particularly the safety of women, has deteriorated in recent years. He accused those close to the ruling dispensation of being involved in the rigging of competitive examinations, which, he said, has caused deep despair among the youth. Referring to data from the State Migration Commission, he expressed concern that villages in the hill regions are steadily becoming depopulated as families continue to move out in search of livelihood and basic amenities. He also alleged that in the aftermath of natural disasters, many affected families have not yet been properly rehabilitated. Arya also lamented high rate of unemployment as a major problem
At one point during Arya’s address, senior BJP leader Banshidhar Bhagat intervened, urging him not to singularly praise only Narayan Dutt Tiwari for Uttarakhand’s development. Responding to frequent interruptions, Arya said that whenever the Congress raises pertinent issues or points out the shortcomings of the government, the ruling party tends to dismiss it as political criticism. He urged the BJP to take such observations in a positive spirit.
