Khanduri committed to statehood agitationists' dreams

Muzaffarnagar, Oct 2 (UNI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri today reiterated that his government was committed to fulfilling the dreams of statehood agitationists.

Earlier, Maj Gen Khanduri paid floral tributes at the Shahid Smarak here on the occasion of the 13th anniversary of the Rampur Tiraha episode.

''The Uttarakhand government would implead itself in all the court cases pertaining to the infamous episode for justice to the agitationists and punishment to the accused,'' he announced.

The Chief Minister admitted that the cases could not be pursued with vigour earlier and his government would ensure that the guilty were dealt with according to law at any cost.

''We will put up our case forcefully, so that the guilty get their due,'' he underlined.

Maj Gen Khanduri said his government would take all possible steps for the welfare of the statehood agitationists and extend full assistance and privileges to them.

Uttarakhand Revenue Minister Diwakar Bhatt and BJP Uttarakhand unit president Bachchi Singh Rawat were also present on the occasion.

On October 2, 1994, agitationists, en route to the national capital demanding a separate Uttarakhand state, were stopped by the police at Rampur Tiraha.

Since the agitationists were unrelenting, police resorted to firing and lathicharge, in which eight people were killed on the spot.

Besides, reports of assault on women agitationists were also received.

Five court cases are still pending in this regard.

UNI