Key Points

In a post shared on X, CM Dhami said, "The extremely sad news has been received of the martyrdom of Rifleman Suraj Singh Negi, a brave son of Kotdwar, while serving Mother India in the Baramulla region of Jammu-Kashmir. We salute your bravery and sacrifice; your saga of valor will always remain alive in our memories. Humble tributes!"

https://x.com/pushkardhami/status/1974525296151019938

Earlier, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami paid floral tributes to the deceased activists at the Shaheed Sthal, Rampur Tiraha in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar on Thursday. A ceremony was held in memory of the activists who sacrificed their lives during the Uttarakhand statehood movement.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced that a master plan for the redevelopment of the Rampur Tiraha Shaheed Sthal will be prepared. Efforts will be made to enhance the grandeur of the museum at the site. Additionally, a canteen will be constructed, and a stoppage point will be developed for Uttarakhand buses.

The Chief Minister said that the Rampur Tiraha firing incident of October 2, 1994, remains one of the darkest and most painful chapters in the history of the Uttarakhand statehood movement.

"Even today, the memories of the brutal firing and the inhuman atrocities committed against women send shivers down the spine of every Uttarakhandi. Those responsible for protecting the public had themselves crossed all limits of violence and barbarity. A peaceful movement was ruthlessly crushed. He said that this day will always remind us that the foundation of Uttarakhand was nurtured with the blood of our deceased activists," he said.

He further said that it was because of the sacrifice, dedication, and struggle of the movement's participants that Uttarakhand was granted statehood.

"The state government is committed to building the Uttarakhand envisioned by the movement's leaders. A 10 per cent horizontal reservation in government jobs has been implemented for statehood activists and their dependents. Families of deceased activists are provided with a monthly pension of Rs 3,000. Injured activists and those who were jailed receive a pension of Rs 6,000 per month, while active participants receive Rs 4,500 per month. The government has also issued identity cards to recognised statehood activists and appointed 93 activists to government service. In addition, they are provided free travel in state-run buses," CM Dhami said.

- ANI