By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 25 Jan: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today asserted that 70 percent of the population in Joshimath town is unaffected by the land subsidence, contrary to the perception being created by certain people. Interacting with media persons here, today, Dhami said that over 70 percent of the shops and other business establishments remain open in Joshimath even after the land subsidence. He asserted that the entire city of Joshimath has not been affected by the disaster.
While admitting that the problem is serious, he further stated it is not as serious as being made to appear. Dhami added that the administration is engaged in preparing for the upcoming Char Dham Yatra.
In response to a question about the recent leaks of question papers related to various recruitments conducted by UKSSSC and Uttarakhand State Public Service Commission (UKPSC), he said that those found involved in copying in exams would face strict action. Their entire property would be confiscated and they would have to remain for a long time behind bars. Not only this, the candidates caught cheated would be disqualified from appearing in any competitive examination for the next 10 years. In order to ensure this, a new rule is being drafted with such provisions to discourage cheating and rigging of recruitment examinations.
He has also slammed the Congress leaders who went to Jammu and Kashmir to attend the closing ceremony of the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra on January 30 for raising the issue of the Joshimath crisis there.
Dhami said the Congress is trying to defame the state of Uttarakhand by raising the Joshimath issue in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief Minister said that misconceptions are being spread about the situation in the town.
CM Dhami also said that the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force personnel have been deployed to help the affected. Along with this, rehabilitation work is also being carried out.
He said that in such a situation, a message carrying the impression “that the entire Joshimath area is unsafe” should not be spread.
The CM further said he has informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation in Joshimath, adding that the Central government is “constantly monitoring the situation”.
