Khatima: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a tribute programme held on Tuesday in memory of the statehood activists who were martyred in the Khatima firing incident. He paid floral tributes at the statues of the martyrs and honoured their family members by presenting them with traditional angavastrams.
The Chief Minister said Uttarakhand would always remember the sacrifices of Khatima firing incident martyrs, including Bhagwan Singh Sirola, Pratap Singh, Rampal, Salim Ahmed, Gopichand, Dharmanand Bhatt and Paramjeet Singh. He said the land of Khatima had been a sacred ground of the statehood movement. In incidents such as Khatima, Mussoorie and Rampur Tiraha, the agitators had written the history of Uttarakhand with their blood. The state, he said, had been achieved through struggle, sacrifice and selflessness.
The Chief Minister said building Uttarakhand in accordance with the dreams of the statehood agitators would be the true tribute to the martyrs. The state government is continuously working for the honour and welfare of the agitators and their dependants.
He said statehood agitators and their dependants are being provided 10 per cent horizontal reservation in government jobs. The pension for dependants of martyred agitators has been increased from ₹3,000 to ₹5,500 per month, while the pension for injured and jailed agitators has been fixed at ₹7,000 and that for other identified agitators at ₹5,500 per month. Agitators are also being provided free travel facilities on government buses.
The Chief Minister said the contribution of women, or matrashakti, to the creation of the state had also been historic. In recognition of this contribution, 30 per cent horizontal reservation has been provided to women in government jobs.
The Chief Minister said the government had taken several important decisions in the interest of the state. Uttarakhand is the first state in the country to implement the Uniform Civil Code. A stringent anti-cheating law has been implemented to safeguard the future of young people, and more than 34,000 youths have been provided government jobs through a transparent recruitment process over the past five years.
He said anti-conversion and anti-riot laws had been implemented to protect the cultural values and original character of Devbhoomi. Meanwhile, through a campaign against illegal encroachments, more than 13,000 acres of government land has been freed from encroachment.
The Chief Minister said the government remained committed to building a strong, prosperous and self-reliant Uttarakhand while always remembering the sacrifices of the martyrs of the statehood movement and keeping their dreams at the forefront.
