The opposition BJP in Uttarakhand has decided to take up with the state government the issue of not honouring policemen engaged in rescue work in calamity-hit Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts on Independence Day and demand that they be duly commended.
"Police personnel in Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts rendered great service during the crisis in the difficult hilly terrain, braving inclement weather.
"It is a gross injustice to leave them out from the list of those being honoured on the occasion of Independence Day. We have already received several representations from the two districts and will take up the matter with the Chief Minister demanding that the policemen be honoured at the earliest," said Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Ajay Bhatt.
Resentment started brewing among people since Independence Day function after policemen who served in the worst-hit Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts during the mid-June disaster in Uttarakhand rescuing stranded pilgrims, were not honoured by the department.
Their grouse is, though the state police headquarters honoured as many as 310 police personnel on August 15 for their commendable service, those who rendered services in the difficult terrains during the crisis were ignored, Chamoli district BJP president Vinod Kaparwan said.
"It is appalling that policemen who rescued over 17,000 pilgrims stranded at the Himalayan shrine of Badrinath and other areas of Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts for 18 days during the worst ever crisis in Uttarakhand, were conveniently ignored by the government when it came to honouring personnel for commendable services," Kaparwan said, adding that the grievances were conveyed to the Leader of Opposition.
