By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 17 Mar: Markets in Doiwala area of Dehradun remained closed for several hours today to protest the resignation of Cabinet Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal. Aggarwal is a native of Doiwala, though he currently represents Rishikesh Assembly constituency in the state assembly. Interestingly, the markets in Rishikesh remained open despite Aggarwal’s resignation as a minister. Cabinet Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami yesterday. The resignation followed a ‘controversial’ statement made during the budget session in the assembly, which sparked widespread outrage and demands for his resignation. Protests erupted across the state, with processions and demonstrations gaining momentum. In Gairsain, the summer capital, retired soldiers staged a hunger strike and even wrote a letter in blood to the President, demanding Aggarwal’s removal from the cabinet.
While critics of Aggarwal’s statement celebrated his resignation, his supporters announced a bandh in protest. The bandh had a mixed impact. In Doiwala, Aggarwal’s hometown, the market remained closed for several hours, though shops supplying essential goods stayed open. However, on his appeal, the traders in Doiwala opened their establishments later.
It may be reminded here that Aggarwal, a resident of Doiwala, has deep ties to the area, where his family also resides. The local trade union had called for the market shutdown, and his supporters staged a sit-in protest at Doiwala Chowk. Protesters accused certain groups of engaging in regional politics and claimed that Aggarwal’s resignation was coerced, which they argued was detrimental to Uttarakhand’s development. They demanded that Chief Minister Dhami reject Aggarwal’s resignation.
In contrast, the bandh in Dehradun city and in Rishikesh appeared largely ineffective. The capital’s busiest market, Paltan Bazaar, remained fully operational, and there was no visible impact in Rishikesh either.
The Doiwala Vyapar Sangh had called for the market shutdown in solidarity with Aggarwal. Traders closed their shops in the morning and gathered at Doiwala Chowk for a sit-in protest, demanding the withdrawal of Aggarwal’s resignation. However, Aggarwal made a surprise appearance at the protest site, where he was greeted with slogans of support. Aggarwal began his address with the slogan “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”. He expressed gratitude to the protesters, saying, that he had come to know that they had closed their establishments after his resignation. He added that he was deeply moved and had come to thank the people. He then issued an appeal to them to open the shops and keep on working for the betterment of Uttarakhand.
