By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Dehradun: Widespread protests broke out across Uttarakhand’s Tehri district on Friday as hundreds of people took to the streets demanding that the proposed government medical college be established at Iniya near New Tehri, amid allegations that state Health Minister Subodh Uniyal is opposing the move.
Protesters gathered at New Tehri and nearby localities, including Baoradi, Bipuram and Koti Colony, carrying placards and raising slogans in support of setting up the medical college at the proposed site in Iniya.
The agitation received the backing of Tehri BJP MLA Kishore Upadhyaya, who has been advocating the establishment of a medical college in the district for nearly two decades.
Expressing gratitude to the protesters, Upadhyaya said the massive public participation reflected the strong aspirations of the people of Tehri. “Today, I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude for the overwhelming public support in favour of establishing a medical college. All of you have upheld the sacred spirit of Tehriyat. I bow to you with my deepest respect,” he said in a post on social media.
He urged people to remain united, saying the same spirit would be required to bring Tehri within the ambit of reservation. “I have complete faith in our respected Chief Minister. I am confident that he will honour your struggle and uphold your sentiments,” he said.
Reiterating his commitment to the project, Upadhyaya added, “If protecting the medical college demands even the sacrifice of my life, Kishore Upadhyay will not hesitate to do so.”
According to Upadhyaya, the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed medical college has already been prepared for a 100-acre site at Iniya. The project envisages a 400-bed hospital along with the medical college, he said.
Tehri Medical College Nirman Sangharsh Samiti convener Rakesh Bhushan Godiyal said the institution should be established only at Iniya as it is centrally located and would be accessible to people from across Tehri district.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Subodh Uniyal is learnt to favour establishing the medical college at a location that would serve a larger population. According to BJP sources, the minister is advocating that the institution be set up in his Narendra Nagar Assembly constituency. However, there has been no official statement from Uniyal responding to the allegations made by the protesters or BJP MLA Kishore Upadhyaya.