Uttarakhand Madrasa Board Chairman’s Remark Sparks Controversy; Protesters Express Anger

A controversy erupted on Thursday over a statement made by Mufti Shamun Kasmi, Chairman of the Uttarakhand Madrasa Board. Kasmi was addressing the media outside the Shaheed Smarak in the court premises when two words from his statement triggered strong opposition from statehood movement activists.

Kasmi had arrived to attend the Chief Minister’s program and while speaking to the press on the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, he was also asked about the Rampur Tiraha firing incident. Reportedly, while beginning his response, he referred to the day as “auspicious.” This remark angered several statehood activists, who pointed out that the Rampur Tiraha firing was a tragic day when many Uttarakhand activists lost their lives. They questioned how such a day could be termed auspicious.
Agitated activists confronted Kasmi and made him leave the spot.

Viral Video Fuels Debate :
A video of the incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking widespread discussion throughout the day. Statehood Movement Forum President Jagmohan Negi, district spokesperson Pradeep Kukreti, and activist Mohan Kumar criticized Kasmi, stating that his words were inappropriate for the occasion and deeply hurt the sentiments of the movement’s supporters.

Kasmi’s Clarification :
Responding to the controversy, Mufti Shamun Kasmi said his statement had been misunderstood. “The Rampur Tiraha firing was indeed a very tragic event. My intention was not to call that incident auspicious. I was referring to the auspiciousness of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri’s birth anniversaries as well as the festival of Dussehra,” he clarified.