UKD firm on Gairsen as U'khand capital, warns of indefinite stir

Dehra Dun, Aug 23 (UNI) The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) has submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister B C Khanduri demanding that Gairsen be made the permanent capital of the hill state, failing which they would resort to a nationwide agitation.

At a dharna called at Gandhi Park here yesterday, UKD party activists accused the BJP governent of misleading the public by bringing in the Justice Virender Dixit Commission report and warned of a month-long agitation to fight for Gairsen as the permanent capital of the state.

During the dharna, ten party workers got their heads tonsured to protest against the BJP's ignorance of the aspirations of the people to have their capital in Gairsen.

Warning that the Khanduri government would be responsible for the outcome of the indefinite protest, the activists asked the BJP to make public the 250 page Dixit report submitted after eight years to recommend a capital for the state.

Indications were rife that the report could recommend Gairsen, Dehra Dun or Ramnagar as the new capital.

The UKD favours Gairsen as it is strategically located in the middle of Garhwal and Kumoan regions and since Uttarakhand is a hill state, the capital should also be in the hills.

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