Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami stated that Vijayadashami is not merely a festival of burning the effigy of Ravana, but an opportunity to identify and eliminate the evils within ourselves and take a resolve to walk the path of truth, righteousness (dharma), and decorum (maryada). Lord Shri Ram’s life serves as an inspiration for sacrifice, devotion to duty, and exemplary conduct. Justice, good governance, equality, and public welfare form the core spirit of Ram Rajya.
The Chief Minister attended the Dussehra festival organized by the Bannu Biradari at the Parade Ground in Dehradun on Saturday. Extending Vijayadashami greetings to the people of the state, he wished everyone happiness, peace, prosperity, and joy. He also congratulated the office-bearers of Bannu Biradari and the organizing committee for the successful execution of the event.
The Chief Minister noted that the episode of Lord Shri Ram and Ravana teaches that no matter how powerful arrogance and unrighteousness may be, ultimate victory belongs to truth and righteousness. Ravana possessed immense wealth, capability, and a vast army, but his arrogance and violation of ethical boundaries led to his downfall. In contrast, Lord Shri Ram established ideals of sacrifice, restraint, fulfillment of duty, and righteousness. Renouncing royal comforts and accepting fourteen years of exile to protect his father’s word stands as an example of his devotion to duty.
Call to Unite Against Corruption, Substance Abuse, and Social Evils
The Chief Minister stated that to strengthen harmony and moral values in society, every individual must resolve to remove arrogance, anger, greed, and negative tendencies from within themselves. Collective efforts are necessary to end social evils such as corruption, injustice, substance abuse, and violence against women. He reiterated that the state government is committed to protecting the state’s cultural heritage, religious traditions, and social harmony.
Dhami mentioned that over 13,000 acres of government land in the state have been freed from encroachment. A strict law has been implemented to recover compensation from those who damage public and private properties. Action is also being taken as per rules against those who mislead and defraud people in the name of religion and faith. He described the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as a significant initiative toward strengthening the spirit of equality and justice.
Over 35,000 Youth Given Government Jobs in Five Years
The Chief Minister emphasized that providing quality, modern, and scientific-temper-based education to the children of the state is a government priority. To secure the future of the youth, transparency in recruitment processes has been ensured, and a strict law has been enacted to curb irregularities such as cheating/leaks. According to him, more than 35,000 youth have been appointed to government services over the past five years.
He added that the foundation of good governance rests on transparency, accountability, and commitment to public interest. The government is operating under a zero-tolerance policy toward corruption to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach eligible beneficiaries. The expansion of investment, entrepreneurship, and employment opportunities is vital for the state’s economic progress. Local traders and enterprises, both small and large, contribute significantly toward strengthening the state’s economy.
The Chief Minister noted that under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government is moving forward with the resolve to make Uttarakhand the best state in the country. Along with development, preserving the state’s cultural identity, spiritual traditions, and natural heritage is equally essential.
Appealing to the citizens to adopt the ideals of Lord Shri Ram in their lives, he stated that through collective efforts, an Uttarakhand can be built where every individual gets justice, youth get opportunities to progress, women remain safe, and the benefits of development reach the last person in society.
The program was attended by Cabinet Minister Khajan Das, office-bearers and members of Bannu Biradari, representatives of the organizing committee, prominent citizens, and a large number of local residents.
