Statehood leader Badoni forgotten

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, December 24

The eminent statehood agitation leader Indramani Badoni, also known as Gandhi of Uttarakhand, remained a forgotten entity on his birth anniversary at Mussoorie today.

Political parties are celebrating the birth anniversary of the great leaders in their own ways but in Mussoorie, no political party or organisation, including various factions of the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, came forward to garland the bust of the great leader erected at the Indramani Chowk, named after the great leader in Kulri Chowk. Badoni fought for the separate state of Uttarakhand his whole life and died a pauper in the end.

The Municipal Council that owns the fountain at Indramani Badoni Chowk did not send even one employee to clean the bust as a mark of respect on his birth anniversary.

The residents of the town are saddened at the disrespect shown to the great leader and said for political parties of Mussoorie Winterline carnival and elections were more important as the great leader was forgotten on his birth anniversary.

Pradeep Bhandari, member, Uttarakhand Film Vikas Parishad, in a press meet, said Badoni sacrificed his life for the cause of the separate state but none from the local administration and also from any political party came forward to offer a floral tribute or garlanding the bust. He said how would these political parties, who forgot Badoni’s anniversary, feel if anyone forgets their leaders anniversary.

Indramani Badoni was born on December 24, 1925, in Akhodi village of Tehri. He fought for the separate state of Uttarakhand till 1999. His struggle was based on non-violence technique and he was known as Gandhi of Uttarakhand.