By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
DEHRADUN, 19 Sep: BJP state spokesperson and senior MLA Vinod Chamoli today targeted former Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Harish Rawat over his roadshow and described the announced road show by Rawat as an exercise in political drama. He said that while those who were offering to resign until recently are suddenly organising grand welcomes for themselves now. He also claimed that the people have seen through the political posturing and that the Congress and its leaders have been exposed in the public eye.
Addressing the media at the BJP State headquarters here today, Chamoli alleged that corruption had in reality peaked in Uttarakhand during Harish Rawat’s tenure as Chief Minister. He claimed that the links to alleged corruption during that period are still emerging and are being investigated. Referring to an Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at the premises of Rawat’s personal assistant who was then his OSD when Rawat was the CM, Chamoli alleged that the revelations point towards Rawat’s involvement. He said that, apprehensive over the developments, Rawat had offered to resign and has attempted to create a climate of sympathy around himself.
Chamoli further alleged that Rawat has simultaneously sought to project himself within the Congress as a deeply committed leader who does not want his party to suffer because of him and, therefore, he had offered to resign from his party posts. He described the entire episode as political posturing and claimed that Congress leaders as well as the public are fully aware of it.
The BJP MLA said he had also learnt through various sources that the leader who had been offering to resign until recently is now organising a show of strength. Taking a further swipe at Rawat, Chamoli said he has never seen such a “drama king” in politics. He alleged that the announced roadshow is essentially an attempt to demonstrate his strength and put pressure on the Congress leadership once again.
Chamoli asserted that he has maintained from the beginning that Harish Rawat has neither a genuine association with the Congress nor any real connection with Uttarakhand’s identity or the people of the state. He alleged that Rawat’s primary concern appears to be securing political positions for his family and children and claimed that the Congress has become a “political placement agency” for him. According to Chamoli, the latest political activities are aimed at exerting pressure on the party and had no other objective.
Commenting on the statements made by former minister Harak Singh Rawat, Chamoli said Harak Singh Rawat had claimed that the Sahaspur Assembly seat belonged to the BJP. He pointed out that BJP candidates had won the seat three consecutive times and said that elections could not be won merely through statements, as there is a significant difference between political claims and the ground reality.
Chamoli also termed Harak Singh Rawat’s remarks concerning Anukriti Rawat unfortunate, while acknowledging that the matter is essentially a family issue. He said, however, that Anukriti is a daughter of the hills and asserted that “a daughter of the hills does not fear anyone”. If she has chosen to associate herself with the BJP, he said, it is on ideological grounds.
He further claimed that Harak Singh Rawat’s ideological position has never remained consistent and said that the younger generation took political decisions after careful consideration. Anukriti, he suggested, may have felt that associating with the BJP is the right choice.
Recalling Harak Singh Rawat’s political career, Chamoli said the BJP had given him an opportunity at a relatively young age by making him an MLA and later a minister, besides helping him rise politically. He said Harak Singh Rawat had subsequently been unable to remain with the BJP because of what he described as a lack of ideological stability, alleging that he had become “opportunistic” and therefore kept looking for political opportunities elsewhere. Chamoli concluded by saying that it was the BJP that had helped nurture and promote the leadership of Harak Singh Rawat, who is now raising his voice on Congress platforms.
