Dehradun, Oct 26 Ahead of a two-day Uttarakhand Assembly session at Gairsain in Chamoli district, the police administration has enhanced security measures as the state Congress unit announced a mega protest to corner the government over various issues.
The Congress had announced it would gherao the state assembly on Tuesday and urged workers to turn out in large numbers for it. The party will raise issues like unemployment, women’s safety, corruption, and the Ankita Bhandari murder case.
Additionally, the party will raise issues such as the “protection of democracy”, transparency in electoral rolls, and an impartial investigation into allegations of ”vote theft’’.
More than 1000 police personnel, including six additional superintendents of police, 20 deputy superintendents of police and 54 SHOs, have been deployed for security. Personnel from the PAC, ATS, SDRF, BDS, and ‘Hawk’ teams will also be deployed as part of the security arrangements.
Nilesh Anand Bharne, Inspector General of Police (Crime and Law & Order), and Rajiv Swaroop, Inspector General of Police (Garhwal), conducted a briefing on Monday for the police officers and personnel assigned to duty for the Assembly session.
Police forces assigned to barrier duty have been directed to remain vigilant—especially in the event of processions, protests, or any other unforeseen circumstances—to maintain security and prevent unauthorised individuals from entering the designated security perimeter.
Police personnel stationed at the entry points of the Assembly complex have been instructed to conduct thorough checks of all individuals and vehicles in accordance with established procedures, ensuring that only authorised persons and valid pass holders are granted entry.
SP Surjit Singh Panwar said, “In view of the Assembly session, an adequate police force has been deployed across various security points, entry gates, barriers, and other critical locations. Comprehensive arrangements have been made to ensure the smooth management of traffic, the maintenance of law and order, and the effective coordination between various police units to uphold security and public peace.”
Rajendra Singh Bhandari, general secretary (organisation) of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, has appealed to the presidents, office-bearers, senior leaders, and all Congress workers—across district, metropolitan, and block-level committees—to travel to Gairsain in large numbers from their respective regions to ensure the success of the event.
On October 23, the Congress criticised the state government’s decision to convene the Assembly session at Bhararisain in Gairsain, while scheduling the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting, which sets the agenda and proceedings of the session, in Dehradun.
Chakrata MLA Pritam Singh, who is also a BAC member, called it a “glaring example of discrepancy between the government’s words and its actions.”
“This decision suggests that holding the Assembly session in Gairsain has been reduced to a mere formality, and that the state government lacks any genuine commitment to developing Gairsain as a summer capital,” said Singh.
The state government in 2020 had announced Gairsain as the summer capital of the state, while the demand for making it the permanent capital of the state continues.
Cabinet minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary said that by staging protests in Gairsain or organising marches on the streets, “the Congress cannot evade its accountability.”
“Congress, which intends to gherao the assembly in Gairsain, should clearly articulate its stance on issues such as unemployment, migration, women’s safety, and rural development. The responsibility of the opposition is not merely to oppose the government, but also to offer practical alternatives for resolving public issues,” said the minister.
(PTI News)
