Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said in Dehradun that his government would not tolerate actions it believes threaten the sanctity, culture or social harmony of the state. He made the remarks in a statement carried by ANI on 20 October 2026.
Dhami said the government had enacted laws dealing with issues including ‘land jihad’, ‘love jihad’, forced religious conversions and incitement of riots. These terms were used by the chief minister while describing his administration’s policy and actions.
Claims on encroachment and enforcement
The chief minister said a campaign against illegal encroachments had resulted in the recovery of over 13,000 acres of land. He also claimed that more than 200 illegally operating madrasas had been shut down.
Dhami further said the government had dismantled over 500 unauthorised structures. He attributed additional action against people he described as fraudsters and hypocrites to ‘Operation Kalnemi’.
The statement did not provide details about the individual properties, institutions or structures involved in these figures. It also did not specify the dates of the recoveries, closures or demolitions.
Dhami’s remarks on Ankita Bhandari case
Dhami also criticised opposition parties for what he described as the political exploitation of the case involving Ankita Bhandari, whom he called “a daughter of the entire state of Uttarakhand”. Her death had caused widespread pain across the state, he said.
The chief minister said the government had acted from the beginning by ensuring that the accused were arrested, forming a Special Investigation Team and submitting a comprehensive 500-page report to the court.
According to Dhami, all 3 accused remain in prison, serving life sentences. The statement did not name the accused or provide details of the court decision.
Dhami added that the government had recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe in response to the sentiments of Bhandari’s family. He said the administration remained committed to securing justice and supporting the family.
What the statement means
The remarks brought together 2 themes of the Uttarakhand government’s public messaging: enforcement against alleged encroachments and unlawful activities, and its handling of a case that continues to carry strong public and political significance in the state.
The figures cited by the chief minister are government claims presented in his statement. The remarks did not include supporting documents or a separate departmental breakdown of the land, madrasa and structure-related figures.
The next steps identified in the statement concern the proposed CBI investigation into the Ankita Bhandari case. Dhami did not provide a timeline for that recommendation or indicate whether the investigation had been formally taken over.
Conclusion
Dhami said Uttarakhand had taken action on encroachments, illegal operations and unauthorised structures while pursuing justice in the Ankita Bhandari case. He also said a CBI investigation had been recommended at the request of the victim’s family’s sentiments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What did Pushkar Singh Dhami say in Dehradun?
Dhami said his government would not tolerate actions it believes threaten Uttarakhand’s sanctity, culture or social harmony.
Q. How much land did Dhami say had been reclaimed?
He said the government had reclaimed over 13,000 acres through a campaign against illegal encroachments.
Q. What action did he claim was taken against madrasas?
Dhami said more than 200 illegally operating madrasas had been shut down.
Q. What did Dhami say about unauthorised structures?
He said the government had completely dismantled over 500 unauthorised structures.
Q. What did Dhami say about the Ankita Bhandari case?
He said an SIT had been formed, a comprehensive 500-page report had been submitted to the court and all 3 accused remain in prison, serving life sentences.
Q. Was a CBI investigation mentioned?
Yes. Dhami said the government had recommended a CBI investigation out of respect for the sentiments of Bhandari’s family.
