Dehradun, Feb 20: The Congress in Uttaranchal has called for a statewide bandh today to protest the Centre's delay in withdrawing six CBI cases registered against Uttarakhand movement activists and as a tribute to a former student union leader who died in Delhi yesterday. Gambir Singh Khatheth, the former student union leader from Garhwal, had allegedly set himself on fire in protest against the judgement passed by the fast track court in Tehri against Umesh Charan Gosain for his involvement in the Uttarakhand agitation.

He died after struggling for life for five days. Congress Party spokesman Dhirendra Pratap said Uttaranchal Party president and Minister of State for Industry had laid wreaths on the body yesterday in Delhi and sent it to Tehri for last rites.

The state Congress president and all districts heads of the party will assemble in Tehri to attend the funeral.

Bureau Report