A three-day special session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly was held to commemorate 25 years since the state's formation. This session was adjourned indefinitely after a total proceeding of 20 hours and 23 minutes.
Dehradun: The three-day special session, organized to mark 25 years since the formation of Uttarakhand state, was adjourned indefinitely on Thursday after an historic proceeding of 20 hours and 23 minutes. During this session, extensive discussions took place on important issues related to the state's past, present, and future. Both the ruling party and the opposition openly expressed their views on topics such as the issue of Gairsain as the state capital, migration, commission-taking, determination of native residency period, and the roadmap for the state's development.
Unprecedented Enthusiasm in the House, Session Extended by a Day
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal informed that all MLAs actively participated in the special session, and the level of discussion was highly encouraging. He stated that, owing to the unprecedented enthusiasm in the House and the profound deliberations on issues of public interest, the session's duration was extended by one day for the first time. He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttarakhand has received approximately ₹2 lakh crore in aid from the central government over the past 11 years, which has given new direction to infrastructure, healthcare services, and industrial development in the state.
Subodh Uniyal described this session as “historic and a guide for the future,” stating that these discussions would help accelerate the state's developmental journey.
Opposition Targets Government
However, during the session, the opposition heavily criticized the government. Leader of the Opposition, Yashpal Arya, accused the government, stating that the account of achievements presented in the special session was a “bundle of lies.” He asserted that impartiality was not maintained in evaluating the 25 years of achievements, and no substantial discussion took place on the state's real issues of unemployment, health, education, and migration.
Arya stated, “If a true evaluation of Uttarakhand's 25-year journey is to be made, an impartial comparison of the policies of the Congress's 10 years and BJP's 13 years must be done. The state's future will not be secured merely by self-praise.”
25 Years of State Formation: A Confluence of Introspection and Aspirations
This special session was not merely a formal event but also an introspection of the state's achievements and challenges. Formed in 2000 by separating from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand has made progress in many areas over 25 years — with significant improvements in education, tourism, energy, and infrastructure. However, issues like migration, employment crisis, and environmental imbalance continue to be major challenges for the state. During the session, various MLAs offered detailed suggestions on these topics and demanded a robust policy framework for the next 25 years.
During the session, the issue of making Gairsain the permanent capital flared up once again. Many MLAs stated that the soul of a hilly state resides in its mountainous region, and declaring Gairsain as the capital would honor the sentiments of the state. Although no formal announcement was made by the government on this, the discussion certainly raised the political temperature.
