Government Orders Investigation into Alleged Demographic Shifts

The Uttarakhand government has launched an official investigation into alleged demographic shifts in the Pachhadun area of Dehradun and nearby regions after receiving several public complaints and reports about irregularities.

Officials have been directed to review important documents such as Aadhaar cards, family registers, and voter IDs to identify possible fraud or discrepancies, according to government sources.

Serious Concerns Over Document Irregularities

Parag Madhukar Dhakate, the Special Secretary to the Chief Minister, confirmed that the government had received numerous complaints regarding errors in Aadhaar data and family records.

He added that the state administration is taking the matter seriously and will soon issue detailed guidelines and actions to address the issue. The district administration and police departments have also been instructed to monitor Common Service Centres (CSCs) and other document-issuing authorities to prevent misuse or illegal entries.

Local Concerns About Changing Population Patterns

Local residents from several villages in Pachhadun have expressed growing concern over what they describe as a sharp rise in the Muslim population in the past 10–15 years.

• Shyam Lal, an 83-year-old resident of Dhakrani village, said that the community’s population had been small earlier but has increased noticeably in recent years.

• Mausam Singh, a former village head, claimed that vacant lands near the canal were allegedly encroached upon and later legalised through local representatives without proper verification.

• Pankaj, a local shopkeeper, mentioned that several new families have settled in the area, many of whom are not originally from the region.

• Shanti Devi, another long-time resident, said that the number of Muslim families had “grown rapidly,” transforming the social makeup of nearby villages.

Response from Muslim Residents

Several Muslim residents living in the area shared their side of the story.

• Zahid, a resident of Jeevangarh village, said that some families had moved to Pachhadun after facing issues in their previous locations.

• Mohammad Imran, who has lived in the area for over 20 years, mentioned that many of the families are now permanent residents and actively participate in community life.

Political Debate Over Cultural Identity and Rights

The issue has now entered the political arena, with both major parties — the BJP and the Congress — taking opposing stands.

• BJP leader Mahendra Bhatt stressed the importance of protecting the cultural identity of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand, claiming that the majority population has decreased by nearly 40–60% in some localities.

• In contrast, Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana accused the BJP of politicising the issue, saying that the party had ruled Uttarakhand for most of its existence and should instead focus on governance and unity.

Dhasmana added that every Indian citizen has the constitutional right to live and settle anywhere in the country, citing examples of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, originally from Pauri Garhwal, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, who now resides in Delhi.

“Will anyone question Yogi Adityanath or Ajit Doval for living outside their birthplace?” Dhasmana asked, urging restraint and respect for constitutional values.

Ongoing Investigation and Next Steps

The state government’s investigation into the demographic changes in Dehradun’s Pachhadun region is still ongoing. Authorities have assured that further actions will be taken once official findings are confirmed.

The administration has also appealed to the public to avoid misinformation and to cooperate with the authorities during the verification process.