Felicitation ceremony held in Mussoorie on State Foundation Day
Garhwal Post Bureau
Mussoorie, 9 Nov: On the occasion of Uttarakhand State Foundation Day, statehood activists were honoured at a ceremony organised by the Municipal Council and the administration at the Municipal Hall in Mussoorie.
Reflecting on the struggles and sacrifices of the statehood movement, Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi remarked that the very existence of Uttarakhand today is the result of the immense sacrifices and dedication of these agitators. Recalling the 1994 firing incidents in Mussoorie and other parts of the state, he became visibly emotional while sharing his personal experiences. He noted that many lives were lost and numerous individuals were injured during the movement; at one point, the situation was so dire that he feared he might not survive.
Earlier in the day, Minister Joshi visited the ‘Shaheed Sthal’ (Martyrs’ Memorial) in Mussoorie to pay floral tributes to the martyrs of the statehood movement. He highlighted that the contribution of women—the ‘Matrushakti’—alongside the agitators, was truly incomparable in the creation of a separate Uttarakhand state. Remembering the late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he noted that the state of Uttarakhand was formed during his tenure; Vajpayee paved the way for a separate state by respecting the sentiments of the people of Uttarakhand. He added that while Atal Bihari Vajpayee created Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is now working to nurture and develop it.
During the ceremony, the challenges faced by the agitators and their families were brought to light. It was pointed out that the families of six individuals who were martyred during the statehood movement have yet to be officially recognized as families of statehood agitators. Furthermore, there remain many other agitators who have not yet been formally identified or registered. The speakers demanded that eligible statehood activists and the families of martyrs be identified without fail, ensuring they receive the benefits provided by the government. Concerns were also raised regarding the linking of the ‘honorarium’ (samman nidhi) for activists to a pension scheme, which has prevented many from receiving the intended benefits; it was urged that the process for accessing these facilities be simplified.
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi requested Municipal Council Chairperson Meera Saklani to implement a provision for house tax exemptions for statehood activists in Mussoorie, in accordance with the rules. He noted that a similar system has already been in place within the Municipal Corporation for about 15 years, and therefore, activists in Mussoorie should also be granted this benefit. In response, Chairperson Meera Saklani acknowledged that the creation of the state of Uttarakhand was made possible solely through the sacrifices of these activists and martyrs. She affirmed that both the government and the Municipal Council are making every effort to realize the vision of the Uttarakhand they dreamed of. She assured that a proposal for house tax exemptions for the activists would be presented at the upcoming Municipal Council board meeting, and that a necessary action plan would be prepared.
Chairperson Meera Saklani further stated that a proposal to name six roads in the city after the six martyrs from Mussoorie has already been submitted to the state administration. Further action will be taken once approval is received. She remarked that associating the names of the martyrs with the city’s identity would serve as a fitting tribute to their sacrifices, while also providing the younger generation an opportunity to learn about the history and struggles of the statehood movement.
Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi noted that as Uttarakhand completes 26 years since its inception, it is moving toward new heights of development. While the state has achieved significant milestones across various sectors, it remains equally important to honour the sentiments and expectations of those who fought for the creation of the state. Regarding the State Foundation Day event, he expressed his regret, noting that the occasion should have been celebrated on a much larger scale. He emphasized that such events should serve to acquaint the younger generation with the history of the statehood movement, the sacrifices of the martyrs, and the struggles of those who participated in the movement. He stated that, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the state government is working toward making Uttarakhand prosperous, strong, and self-reliant. He expressed his confidence that, in the near future, Uttarakhand will emerge as one of the leading states in the country. He also extended his best wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of State Foundation Day.
Present at the event were Mussoorie SDM Rahul Anand, Naib Tehsildar Upendra Rana, former MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, as well as Devi Godiyal, Gauri Thapliyal, Pawan Thalwal, Ranbir Kandari, Shivani Bharti, Vijay Vindwal, Anita Dhanai, Mohan Petwal, Arvind Semwal, Madan Mohan Karnwal, Sanjay Agrawal, Anil Godiyal, and several others.
