Left parties condemn Dhami’s statement on presence of Urban Naxals in Uttarakhand

Left parties condemn Dhami’s statement on presence of Urban Naxals in Uttarakhand

Dehradun, Oct 15

The three left parties of Uttarakhand namely Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Communist Party of India (Marxists Leninist) have strongly condemned the recent statement of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in which he had mentioned about the presence of ‘Urban Naxals’ and Jehadi elements in the state who are out to disturb the peace of the ‘Devbhoomi’.

At a joint meeting of the three left-wing parties—CPI, CPI(M), and CPI(ML) held today at the CPI(M) state office, here, strongly condemned Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s statement, in which he described the threat of ‘Urban Naxals’ and a jihadi mentality in the state. Left leaders said that the Chief Minister is creating a false narrative of ‘Urban Naxals’ to hide his failures in paper leaks matter, corruption issues and disaster management, and by repeatedly using the term “jihad” to spread communal hatred. It is condemnable that, while holding a constitutional position, he continues to use unconstitutional and hate-mongering language. Left leaders said that the Chief Minister is using such inflammatory language to overcome the ongoing power struggle within his own party.

The Left leaders expressed support for the ongoing movement for healthcare facilities in Chaukhutia stating that the state of health services throughout Uttarakhand, especially in the mountainous regions, is extremely poor and in shambles. Most hospitals have become mere referral centers for private hospitals. The Uttarakhand government should immediately meet the demands of the Chaukhutia protesters and take concrete measures to strengthen health services in the mountains.

Left leaders expressed support for the nearly two-month-long agitation by villagers in Bagjala, near Haldwani, led by the All India Kisan Mahasabha, for land ownership rights and other demands, and demanded immediate action on the villagers’ just demands. The Left leaders stated that instead of displacing people with bulldozers, the government should grant them land ownership rights. They also expressed support for the ongoing movement demanding Gairsain as the permanent capital of Uttarakhand.

The meeting was attended by Samar Bhandari, former State Secretary of the CPI, Rajendra Purohit, State Secretary of the CPI(ML),  Indresh Maikhuri, and others.