Suspension of protest resented

Tribune News Service

Uttarkashi, January 18

Members of the Sanyukt Sangarsh Samiti are divided over the decision taken by some of their leaders to suspend the protest against the eco-sensitive zone clause until March 31 on a verbal assurance by Chief Minister Harish Rawat that the clause will not be implemented in Uttarkashi.

Some leaders of the samiti led by Chandan Singh Panwar, block pramukh from Bhatwadi, had met the Chief Minister during his recent visit and following an assurance by the latter that the eco-sensitive zone clause would not be implemented in the region they decided to suspend the protest till March 31. However, the samiti has suspended the protest on a condition that if the clause was not revoked they would restart the protest from March 31.

However, a section of samiti members is unhappy with the decision to suspend the protest on mere verbal assurance of the Chief Minister. The differences coming to the fore on the issue is affecting the struggle against the eco-sensitive zone clause. The samiti leaders should have consulted representatives of all 88 affected villages before taking such a decision, said a protester in Uttarkashi.