Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami Pays Tribute to Martyrs of Mussoorie Firing Incident

Sept 2025 : Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami paid tribute to the martyrs of the Mussoorie firing incident on its 31st anniversary and honored their family members at a commemorative program. He said the state government is firmly committed to fulfilling the dreams of the statehood movement activists in building Uttarakhand.

At the program held at the Martyrs’ Memorial in Mussoorie, the Chief Minister paid homage to Balbir Singh Negi, Belmati Chauhan, Hansa Dhanai, Dhanpat Singh, Rai Singh Bangari, and Madan Mohan Mamgai, who sacrificed their lives during the Uttarakhand movement in Mussoorie. He noted that the activists staked their present for the future of Uttarakhand, leaving an invaluable contribution to the state’s creation. Dhami said September 2, 1994, will always remain a dark chapter in the history of Uttarakhand, when peaceful protestors were fired upon by police. This incident, he said, symbolized the oppressive approach of the then ruling parties, which brutally tried to suppress a peaceful movement.

Expressing gratitude towards the statehood activists, Dhami stated that the government has implemented 10% horizontal reservation in government jobs for them and their dependents. Families of martyrs are provided a monthly pension of ₹3,000, while injured activists and those who went to jail receive ₹6,000 per month, and active activists receive ₹4,500. He added that earlier only one dependent of a movement activist was eligible for reservation, but under the new law, abandoned, widowed, and divorced daughters of identified activists will also benefit.

The CM said that 93 identified activists have been appointed to government service, and ID cards have been issued. Free education is provided to the children of activists in schools and colleges, while activists themselves get free travel in government buses. Dhami also highlighted that 30% horizontal reservation for women has been implemented in government jobs.

He emphasized that the dream of statehood activists was to build a Uttarakhand where culture, language, and traditions are protected. In this spirit, the state government has implemented the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to ensure equal rights and duties for all citizens. To provide fair employment opportunities for youth, the country’s strongest anti-cheating law was enacted, sending over 100 cheating mafia members to jail. As a result, more than 25,000 youths secured government jobs in Uttarakhand.

The Chief Minister stressed that the government is fully committed to protecting the state’s demography. For this, strict anti-conversion laws have been enforced, and over 9,000 acres of government land have been freed from encroachment. A stringent anti-riot law has also been enacted, ensuring rioters pay compensation for damages. Recently, a new law abolished the state madrasa board, under which, from July 1, 2026, only those madrasas following the government-prescribed curriculum will operate. Over 250 illegally run madrasas have already been shut down. He further mentioned that under ‘Operation Kalnemi’, the government is taking strict action against those maligning Sanatan culture.

On the occasion, Dhami also announced the early construction of the Garhwal Sabha Bhawan, quick resolution of the siphon court case, and establishment of a vendor zone in Mussoorie, along with other pending demands. He added that the state will celebrate the birth centenary of late Indramani Badoni, the face of the Uttarakhand movement, with grandeur.

Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi expressed gratitude to the CM for declaring Mussoorie a tehsil and presented several demands. The program was attended by municipal chairperson Meera Saklani, Subhash Barthwal, former MLA Jot Singh Gunsola, former municipal chairperson Manmohan Mall, statehood activists, and a large number of local residents.