PrashantNews
With couple of incidents of spitting on food items being reported in Utttarakhad ahead of the Kedarnath byelection, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has declared a war cry warning that his government would not tolerate the spit (thuk) jihad at any cost.
After the incidents of spitting on food items in some hotels and dhabas went viral on the social media, the Chief Minister asked Director General of Police (DGP) Abhinav Kumar to take strict action against the culprits.
Poll observers said the fresh thuk jihad incidents have caused embarrassment to the state government as these incidents are being seen as an attempt to disturb law and order situation in the state.
Leaving nothing to chance, Dhami has also instructed the district administrations to ensure 100 percent verification of the employees working in hotels/dhabas and other commercial institutions. He has stressed that the emphasis should be given on installing CCTV cameras in all hotels and restaurants especially inside kitchens. The help of local intelligence units will be taken to pay special attention on the food vendors running in open places.
The first action in this direction was taken in Mussoorie area where one such incident of thuk jihad was reported. The sources said the state police took legal action against the accused as per the law of the land. Besides legal action, random checking has also started in coordination with the Health and Food Department at various areas in the hill state especially in the Chardham areas.
The Chief Minister has also ordered that if such incidents have an adverse effect on religious, ethnic or linguistic sentiments, then strict action will also be taken under Section 196 (1) (B) or 299.
Meanwhile, the DGP said that a public awareness campaign will also be launched in collaboration with the Health and Food Department, Municipal Corporation, District Panchayat and local institutions so that such incidents can be completely stopped.
“There is no place for any such misdeed (thuk jihad) in Uttarakhand. If anyone is found doing such acts, strict action will be taken. Such incidents not only contaminate food items but also hurt (religious) sentiments. We will take strict action on such incidents,” the Chief Minister said.
The ruling BJP and Congress are facing an election challenge in Uttarakhand as the Election Commission on Tuesday announced that the Kedarnath assembly bypoll will be held on Nov 20 and the counting of votes will begin on Nov 23.
The notification for the byelection will be issued on Oct 22. The last date of filing of nomination papers will be Oct 29. The scrutiny will be held next day. The withdrawal of nominations can be done till Nov 4.
After its ignominious white wash in the Lok Sabha elections for the third time consecutively, the Congress showed signs of recovery when it won both Badrinath and Manglaur seats in the bypolls in July. Congress is exuding confidence that it would win the Kedarnath byelection also this time.
On the other hand, the Chief Minister Dhami has announced a number of new schemes that would benefit the Kedarnath people. He has also warned his opponents that his government would not tolerate love jihad, spit (thuk) jihad and land jihad in the state. The people of Kedarnath will prefer development and give BJP a strong mandate in the byelection, Dhami said.