Statehood activists in Uttarakhand threaten stir

UTTARKASHI: A group of Uttarakhand statehood activists has threatened to go on a fast unto death from November 7 in Dehradun if its demands are not conceded by the state government.

The three-point charter of demands of Rajya Andolankari Sangharsh Samiti includes pension to all statehood activists, 10 per cent reservation to their dependents in government jobs and free travel facility for all activists and their dependents in state-owned buses.

"If our demands are not fulfilled by November 6, we will stage a fast unto death at Shahid Sthal in the state capital from November 7," Rajya Andolankari Sangharsh Samiti Secretary Bira Bhandari said.

"We will be forced to take steps like self-immolation if the state government remains unruffled," she said.

Accusing the state government of giving false assurances to statehood activists, she said that the samiti feels cheated and has made up its mind about going to any extent to have its demands fulfilled.