By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 20 Feb: Hundreds of Congress workers marched to the Vidhan Sabha today in pursuit of their announcement to protest against the provisions of live-in relationships under the UCC and against installation of smart meters in the state. The march was led by the party’s state president Karan Mahara and Mahila Congress state president Jyoti Rautela.
The Congress workers gathered near the Dehradun Him Palace Hotel and marched towards the Vidhan Sabha. However, a heavy police force stopped them by erecting barricades before the Rispana bridge. Angered, the Congress workers sat on a dharna on the road, where theatre workers presented a street play. After the play, the Congress workers attempted to cross the barricades, leading to a confrontation with the police.
There was a significant pushing and shoving witnessed between the police personnel and the Congress workers. Congress leaders, including state president Karan Mahara and Jyoti Rautela, climbed the barricades and protested fiercely against the government. Mahara strongly opposed the live-in provisions in the Uniform Civil Code, particularly objecting to Part 3.
Mahara argued that while the government does not permit polygamy for minorities, the BJP government has increased polygamy by implementing Part 3. He claimed there is a conspiracy to make outsiders residents of Uttarakhand through the Uniform Civil Code after living there for one year.
He stated that the Congress party had previously raised questions on Article 44 of the UCC, but no leader or spokesperson of the BJP responded regarding Article 44 or the live-in relationship provision, especially its Part 3. He accused the BJP of claiming to be the protector of Sanatan Dharma, while their actions contradict its norms.
Mahara also mentioned that the government is forcibly imposing prepaid electricity meters on the people of the entire state to benefit its associated businessmen. He highlighted that the people are already burdened by the high electricity bills from the electronic meters installed earlier. Mahara emphasised that the Congress party strongly opposes the installation of prepaid meters and demands that the plan be halted immediately.
State Women Congress President Jyoti Rautela criticised the Dhami government for ‘misleading the public and attempting to destroy the state’s culture by including provisions like live-in relationships in the UCC’. She claimed that women are the most troubled under the BJP government, which promoted the slogan “Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao”. Rautela argued that the live-in relationship provision makes the lives of daughters completely unsafe. She asserted that the Congress party opposes this provision both in the streets and in the House, demanding the immediate cessation of the UCC implemented in the state.
