Garhwal Post Bureau
PITHORAGARH, 14 Nov: A controversy erupted at the inaugural function of the historic Jauljibi fair after Dharchula Congress MLA Harish Dhami alleged that he was deliberately denied an opportunity to address the gathering from the stage. The dispute intensified after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami left the venue, with the Congress legislator publicly expressing his displeasure and launching a scathing attack on the State government.
According to eyewitnesses and videos that have since gone viral on social media, Dhami vented his anger over not being allowed to speak during the programme. Amid protests and objections from sections of the audience, he allegedly threw a microphone and was involved in a heated altercation at the venue. Supporters of the MLA also reportedly raised slogans from the stage and allegedly toppled the podium. The situation further escalated when some supporters began throwing chairs in the pandal, causing disruption to the proceedings.
Addressing supporters after the CM’s departure, Dhami accused the administration of deliberately preventing him from speaking. He alleged that he was denied an opportunity to address the gathering because the government feared he would raise issues related to corruption. He maintained that as the elected representative of the Dharchula Assembly constituency, he should have been allowed to speak at an important public event being organised in the region. According to him, the issue was not just about an individual but also about the dignity of elected representatives and democratic traditions.
The Congress MLA also linked his protest to local issues, claiming that concerns surrounding the death of an eight-year-old child should have been discussed at the event so that similar incidents could be prevented in future. He further alleged that promises regarding road construction in the area had not been fulfilled.
In a direct political challenge to CM Dhami, the Dharchula MLA said that if the CM had the courage, he should contest an election from the Dharchula Assembly constituency. Dhami further stated that if permitted by his party, he would also be prepared to contest against the Chief Minister from the latter’s constituency.
The developments have drawn particular attention because Dhami had, in the past, publicly praised CM pushkar Singh Dhami. During discussions surrounding the Adi Kailash Yatra around three years ago, the Congress MLA had lauded the CM’s initiatives and had even invited him to contest from Dharchula. However, the events witnessed at the Jauljibi fair presented a starkly different picture, with the legislator adopting an aggressive stance against the government and the administration.
