By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 15 Nov: In the wake of the announcement by the BJP MLA from Dharampur, Vinod Chamoli, to boycott all government functions until rules for adherence to protocol for elected representatives are framed and implemented in the state, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami today ordered the framing of SOPs in this regard. The CM issued these instructions after Chamoli called on him today to register his protest.
On this occasion, Chamoli thanked the CM for the development work being done in his assembly constituency. While discussing various contemporary topics, Chamoli urged Dhami to issue SOPs regarding protocol, including inviting public representatives to government functions in accordance with their position, their participation, as well as seating arrangements.
Following this, Dhami directed the Chief Secretary to issue SOPs regarding the protocol involving public representatives.
It may be recalled that Chamoli had released a video on social media announcing his boycott of all government functions in the wake of a recent incident where he was not accorded respectable seating arrangement at the main government function held in Dehradun on the occasion of State Formation Day on 9 November, after which he had left the function midway. This is not the first time in Uttarakhand that an MLA has complained about not being accorded due protocol by government officers at government functions or at foundation-laying ceremonies.
Incidentally, Chamoli’s announcement came in the midst of the Kedarnath by-election and was quickly picked up by the Congress and turned into an election issue. The BJP MLA had stated that until a clear rule is established in this regard, he would not attend any government programme. However, Chamoli had also made it clear that he would continue to participate in the proceedings of the Assembly on development-related issues. The BJP MLA emphasised that leaders from all parties will support him on the issue of rules related to the protocol concerning public representatives. Chamoli further clarified that his announcement is not intended to be a warning to his government but his own stand on the issue.
It may be recalled that during the function organised in Doon on the state’s formation day on 9 November, Chamoli left the function in anger after not getting a suitable seat. At that time, police officers tried to persuade MLA Chamoli, but the visibly angry Chamoli boycotted the function and left.
Chamoli’s decision to boycott government programmes until a clear rule is established had sparked a debate on the treatment of public representatives and the need for a standardised protocol. Incidentally, such incidents have happened in the state on a rather frequent basis in Uttarakhand where the elected local MLAs were not accorded the protocol due to the elected representatives by senior government officers. In several cases, even the names of the local MLAs have been found missing on foundation stone plaques, even when the protocol mandates that local MLAs be mentioned. On several occasions in the past, MLAs have complained that senior bureaucrats and district-level officers do not pick up their phones and fail to accord them due protocol. Some bureaucrats have also been reported to have altercations with MLAs in the state.
