Violent incidents in Haldwani: CPDRS on dubious role of Uttarakhand government

By DN Rath

Center for Democratic Rights and Secularism (CPDRS) unequivocally condemns the dubious role of Uttarakhand Government and its administration in the incidents that happened in Haldwani of Nanital district of the state.

On 8 February 2024, the local administration of Haldwani carried out a demolition drive and razed down a mosque and a madarasa, the title suit of which is pending in the court. This obviously incited religious fury and frenzy. When people reacted according to their instincts, the administration further punished them by carrying out tyranny in the name of search operations and haphazard arrests. Not only that. The administration isolated the entire Muslim population area from other areas, slapped curfew and closed all the ways of the supply of necessary things, tortured women, children and old age people too.

This series of incidents raises several questions in the mind of civilians:

· Who authorized the administration to intervene in sub judicious matter?

· Did the authority done any announcement or given any written or oral notice as per the procedures?

· Is it that administration was directed to incite religious outcry by targeting particular community?

· Why the administration did take mentality of such a vengeance towards the citizens?

These and many such other questions are still hovering in the mind of the citizens, of not only Uttarakhand, but the entire country. It seems this is neither mistake nor any excess act of the administration, but an well orchestrated design of polarization in the society. Under the circumstances, CPDRS demands on the behalf of democratic loving citizens of the country:

1. A Fact finding Committee should be formed to assess the dubious role of administration. It should be headed by no lesser rank than the Retired Judge either of The Supreme Court of India or at the least The High Court.

2. The responsible officers should be severely punished.

3. The victims should be duly compensated.

4. The bull dozed structures should be rehabilitated.

5. The administration should strive to hold meetings among the local residents and gain their confidence by offering apology and assurances.

CPDRS is of strong opinion that in a democratic country like India, the politics relating to and targeting religion is not at all in the spirit of its Constitution. So, we urge upon the citizens of India not to fall in trap of such divisive forces.

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