Document #1070890
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
According to The Europa World Year Book
1995,
In 1994 a new secessionist movement emerged
in Uttar Pradesh demanding the establishment of an autonomous hill
state, to be known as "Uttarakhand." Following several outbreaks of
violence, curfews were imposed on a number of towns in the state.
The Prime Minister held talks with leaders of the separatist
movement in September and stressed that a swift solution to the
problem, within the framework of the Constitution, should be found
as soon as possible (1473).
A UPI report from 4 October 1994 sums up
the issues this way:
Protesters from eight hill districts in
Uttar Pradesh say the state discriminates against them by enforcing
an affirmative action-style program to promote India's so-called
backward classes. Uttar Pradesh recently implemented a caste-based
hiring quota system, sparking renewed calls for the separate state.
Separatist sentiments have long lingered in the Uttarakhand region,
which was a part of neighbouring Nepal until the mid 1800s, when it
was relinquished to Indian rule under the British raj.
Since 1994 protests and outbreaks of
violence have continued in the state over the issue of Uttarakhand.
In March 1996, for example, over 100 Uttarakhand separatists were
injured in a police baton charge (Reuters 21 Mar. 1996; SCMP 22
Mar. 1996). The separatists were protesting an election speech by
the Indian opposition leader Atal Behari Vajpayee (Reuters 21 Mar.
1996; SCMP 22 Mar. 1996). In December 1995 India Abroad reported
"men and women are pouring onto streets in nearly daily protests
and hundreds of officegoers are boycotting work to spur the
movement for the creation of Uttarakhand (The Northern Region)" (1
Dec. 1995, 11). According to the same report, police had used force
to end a hunger strike by two activists, and in ensuing clashes
between protesters and police 17 people were injured (ibid.). The
Press Trust of India (PTI) also reported police baton-charging
striking Uttarakhand separatists in October 1995 (3 Oct. 1995).
In October 1994 police allegedly killed 17
separatist protesters and raped at least four women in
Muzzafarnagar in a case that has galvanized the separatist movement
(ibid.; India Today 31 Oct. 1995). Although the Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister initially blocked charges against 10 senior district
officials in the incident, in May 1996 criminal cases were filed
against more than 75 police officials allegedly involved in
"excesses" against Uttarakhand separatists (India Today 31 Oct.
1995; ibid. 15 Mar. 1996, 23).
For more information on the Uttarakhand
separatist movement, please see the attached articles.
The Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), or
"Revolutionary Party," is briefly described in two 1991 reports as
a small, regional party in Uttar Pradesh (IPS 20 May 1991;
All-India Radio 16 Mar. 1991). Further information on this group
could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of
additional sources consulted in researching this Information
Request.
References
All-India Radio [Delhi, in English]. 16
March 1991. "BJP Rules Out Aliance with Parties at National Level."
(BBC Summary 18 Mar. 1991/NEXIS)
The Europa World Year Book 1995. 1995.
36th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications Ltd.
India Abroad [Toronto]. 16 February
1996. Neelesh Misra and Sharat Pradhan. "Striving to Overcome
Long-Time Obstacles." (NEXIS)
_____. 1 December 1995. Neelesh Misra.
"Uttar Pradesh: Demands for Separate Hill State Flare Again." (DIRB
Indexed Media Review 28 Nov.- 4 Dec. 1995, Vol. 10, No. 22)
India Today [New Delhi]. 15 March 1996.
"Filed."
_____. 31 October 1995. Charulata Joshi.
"A Denial of Justice." (DIRB Indexed Media Review 24-30 Oct. 1995,
Vol. 10, No. 17)
Inter Press Service (IPS). 20 May 1991.
Mahesh Uniyal. "India: Small Parties May Decide New Government."
(NEXIS)
Press Trust of India (PTI) [New Delhi,
in English]. 3 October 1995. "Internal Affairs: Protestors in Uttar
Pradesh Agitate for Separate State." (BBC Summary 5 Oct.
1995/NEXIS)
Reuters. 21 March 1996. BC Cycle.
"Hundred Injured in India Election Meeting Violence." (NEXIS)
South China Morning Post (SCMP) [Hong
Kong]. 22 March 1996. Rahul Bedi. "Kashmiri Leaders Condemn
Election." (NEXIS)
Attachments
All-India Radio [Delhi, in English]. 2
November 1994. "Uttarakhand: Uttar Pradesh: State Government
Employees on Strike Demanding Separate State." (BBC Summary 4 Nov.
1994/NEXIS)
India Abroad [Toronto]. 1 December 1995.
Neelesh Misra. "Uttar Pradesh: Demands for Separate Hill State
Flare Again." (DIRB Indexed Media Review 28 Nov.- 4 Dec. 1995, Vol.
10, No. 22)
India Today [New Delhi]. 15 March 1996.
"Filed," p. 23.
_____. Charulata Joshi. "A Denial of
Justice." (DIRB Indexed Media Review 24-30 Oct. 1995, Vol. 10, No.
17)
Press Trust of India (PTI) [New Delhi,
in English]. 3 October 1995. "Internal Affairs: Protestors in Uttar
Pradesh Agitate for Separate State." (BBC Summary 5 Oct.
1995/NEXIS)
_____. 17 November 1994. "Unrest: Uttar
Pradesh: Uttarakhand Activists Stage General Strike." (BBC Summary
19 Nov. 1994/NEXIS)
_____. 2 October 1994. "Uttarakhand:
Uttar Pradesh: 10 Killed, 150 Injured in Uttarakhand Clash." (BBC
Summary 4 Oct. 1994/NEXIS)
_____. 30 September 1994. "Uttarakhand:
Rao Meets Uttarakhand Leaders." (BBC Summary 4 Oct. 1994/NEXIS)
Reuters. 21 March 1996. BC Cycle.
"Hundred Injured in India Election Meeting Violence." (NEXIS)
_____. 1 September 1994. BC Cycle. "One
Dead, Over 100 Hurt in Himalayan Protest." (NEXIS)
United Press International (UPI). 4
October 1994. "Violence Wracks Northern India." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
CD-ROM search of UN Documents
1944-January 1996.
Country Reports on Human Rights
Practices for 1995. 1996.
Political Handbook of the World 1994-95.
1995.
Revolutionary and Dissident Movements.
1993.
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