Uttrakhand -- Rights of Sikhs will remain same, says Govt

Uttrakhand -- Rights of Sikhs will remain same, says Govt
HARISH GUPTA

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 8: Differences between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Akali Dal on including Udham Singh Nagar in the proposed Uttrakhand state were finally resolved on Tuesday as the government ensured that land holding rights of the Sikhs and others would be fully protected.

When the matter relating to the creation of three new states was brought before the Union Cabinet on Tuesday night, it was clarified that the status of land holding would remain unchanged in the proposed state of Uttrakhand.

The representative of the Akali Dal in the Union Cabinet, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Minister for Urban Employment, reported to have given his consent to the Bill as it protected rights relating to land holdings.

It has also been decided that while the city of Haridwar and Rishikesh would be part of Uttrakhand, the rural Haridwar would remain with Uttar Pradesh.