Almora: The ongoing three-point protest under the banner of Rashtrapati Sangathan, led by Advocate Vinod Tiwari, witnessed a dramatic turn on Thursday when protest representative and former village head Madan Singh raised the issue at a public hearing held by Cabinet Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat.
According to sources, a controversial remark made by the District Magistrate (DM) during the interaction ignited strong reactions. When Madan Singh highlighted the demands and prolonged struggle of villagers, the DM allegedly responded by saying, “People want luxury services.” This response provoked an immediate objection from Madan Singh, who termed it an insult to rural citizens. The situation was defused by the presence of other officials and staff.
During the same event, a Public Works Department (PWD) official confirmed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) related to the demands had already been prepared, suggesting technical work on the issue had commenced.
However, Madan Singh further alleged that despite weeks of peaceful protest, no district official has come forward to initiate a dialogue with the protesters. This accusation caused visible discomfort among administrative personnel, many of whom avoided direct engagement following the statement.
Back at Gandhi Park, protestors released a joint statement claiming that the DM harbors discriminatory attitudes towards over two dozen villages, which, they say, became evident during the public hearing. They demanded the DM’s immediate transfer from Almora, citing bias and administrative negligence.
The protest continued at Gandhi Park with significant public participation. Notable attendees included Pooran Singh Bora, Nandan Singh, Govind Prasad, Neha, and others, all standing firmly in support of the villagers’ demands.
The protest centers around three main demands:
1. Improvement of road infrastructure and connectivity in rural areas
2. Provision of adequate drinking water facilities
3. Expansion of primary healthcare services in remote villages
The protest is steadily gaining public support, and several civil society groups have now pledged solidarity. Protest leaders have declared that unless concrete steps are taken by the administration, the sit-in will continue indefinitely.
The incident has raised serious concerns about the district administration’s sensitivity toward rural issues and has triggered debate over accountability and governance at the grassroots level.
