By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 9 Jun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami asserted today that, while strict action will be taken against the culprits in cases of ‘love jihad’ and ‘land jihad’, no one would be persecuted unnecessarily. Dhami was speaking informally with media persons at the Secretariat here today.
In response to a question regarding rapid demographic changes in Uttarakhand and attempts at land jihad, Dhami admitted that demographic change is being observed in the state and the government is aware of the fact. That is the reason a verification drive of all the people and particularly those who have settled recently in the state has been ordered. Strict action will be taken against those found to be suspicious or dubious from any angle.
In response to a related question, the CM added that no encroachment on government or forest land will be permitted at any cost and strict action taken to evict all encroachments even if they have been done under religious pretext.
In response to a question related to rising cases of love jihad in the state, Dhami said he had ordered serious investigation of all such cases and strict action where these are proven true. He added that he would later hold a high level meeting with the DGP and other senior police officers where this issue will also be discussed. No one will be allowed to indulge in love jihad and take undue advantage of the girls from the state.
In response to a related question which pointed out that several recent incidents have come to light where young children were being brainwashed towards Jihad and conversion by use of online gaming, Dhami admitted this was an issue of serious concern, adding it has to be seen if such incidents are being carried out as part of some local conspiracy or part of a long drawn large scale one. He reminded the media that the people of Uttarakhand are waking up to these dangers, adding that the government would not allow such things to carry on.
On being asked if Uttarakhand has become a soft target for Jihadi conspiracies, he said it might have been so, but the government is going to act very strictly in this regard and not allow anyone to treat the state as a soft target. Fair investigations will be carried out and everyone involved will have to face several rounds of scrutiny and verification.
Dhami said that large scale encroachments have been observed over the past two decades in the state. The government has taken a strict stand in this regard and a large number of encroachments on government and forest property, irrespective of whether they were carried out in the name of religion, have been removed. He cautioned that some vested interests and political leaders have also tried to spread rumours in this regard. He made it clear that those who have been settled on forest area for 50 years and those who have been living in decades old inhabitations or leased land in the forests would not be touched. Instead, these holding would be regularised. A Cabinet Sub Committee had been constituted to study such cases.
However, those responsible for rapid demographic changes and for adversely affecting law and order would not be spared at any cost, adding that the government is aware of the strategy of some elements to encroach on government and forest land in the name of religious structures. Such a gameplan will not be allowed to work anymore, he asserted. Such elements have already been forewarned to vacate government land otherwise the government would evict them and take legal action against them for encroachment and disturbing the peace.
In response to a question regarding the bypoll in Bageshwar assembly constituency, which has fallen vacant due to the sudden demise of cabinet minister and incumbent MLA Chandan Ramdas, he said it is up to the Election Commission of India, but the BJP is fully prepared to contest the election.
