Dehradun 27 Aug: BJP today advised Congress to stop indulging in petty politics in respect of holy shrines. State BJP President and Rajya Sabha MP, Mahendra Bhatt while speaking to the media persons at the BJP State Headquarters here today took a jibe at the Congress claiming that it was unstable even when in opposition in the state. Countering the allegations levelled by the Congress in respect of various issues, Bhatt reminded that while former Chief Minister Harish Rawat and former PCC Chief Ganesh Godiyal are merely indulging in petty politics over Gairsain, it was the BJP Government in the state which had declared Gairsain as the summer capital of the state. Bhatt asserted that it was the BJP that not only created Uttarakhand state but also declared Gairsain as the summer capital of the state. The BJP is seriously taking the state ahead, while on the other hand, Congress leaders are merely indulging in rhetoric and petty politics over various issues.
Dismissing the claims of veteran Congress leader Harish Rawat that he was in the process of making Gairsain as the permanent capital, Bhatt reminded him that it was the BJP which had created the separate state of Uttarakhand and also made Gairsain as its summer capital. The BJP Government is also ensuring rapid development work done there. He added that even in future, the development work in Gairsain will be done by the BJP Government only. He added that what Harish Rawat is claiming today is a complete lie, because even after the rebel MLAs left Congress, he was in power with majority for a long time, but did not even discuss the issue of a permanent capital. Bhatt also claimed that the advancing age of Harish Rawat is leading to hallucination or he is making tall but false claims only to grab media headlines.
Bhatt also took a dig at the allegations levelled by the Congress regarding the stability of the BJP Government based on a claim made by an independent MLA. He said that while the BJP Government is as stable as ever, it is the Congress which is unstable even while being in the Opposition.
The Rajya Sabha MP claimed that from the level of MLAs till the top position of the party chief in the state, the party leaders are busy fighting among themselves. Reminding that BJP has 47 MLAs in a House of 70, Bhatt asked where is the possibility of instability of the government in such a situation, He claimed that those who are talking about the instability of the government are involved in such conspiracies somewhere.
Responding to the question regarding the announcement made by ex MLA Ganesh Godiyal that he will not accept increased salary and allowances due to the MLAs, Bhatt reminded that Godiyal is a rich person with big business interests and called upon him to given up his entire pension along with the increased portion of the pension. Bhatt claimed that there are many rich MLAs in Congress and that Godiyal should request all of them to give up their salary allowances or other facilities. Bhatt further added that if one MLA or ex MLA wishes to give up his or her salary or pension, then it is his or her personal choice but why make it an issue for political publicity. As far as the government is concerned, it has respected the majority of the House in this matter because the BJP believes that a public representative needs lot of resources to work in greater public interest.
Responding to questions asked by Godiyal regarding the ban on the construction of Kedarnath temple in Delhi, Bhatt claimed that due to the efforts of Chief Minister Dhami, now no trust can be formed in the name of the Char Dham shrines of Uttarakhand anywhere in the country. In the same sequence, due to the efforts of the government, the Kedarnath temple project under construction in Delhi has been completely closed down. As far as the questions of land and donation amount are concerned, everyone knows that the registration of any institution and trust is done in the society office under certain rules. There is a pre-determined procedure for its banking operations and no one can directly interfere in it. Therefore, the Congress leaders in general and Ganesh Godiyal in particular should avoid making illogical statements just to point fingers at the BJP government and to do politics. If Godiyal has any expertise, then he should get the money collected in the name of temples being built in the name of Badri Kedar not only in Delhi but also across the country including in Mumbai, transferred to Shri Badri Kedar Mandir Samiti. He also warned that Godiyal and Congress leaders should avoid excessive politics on Kedarnath Dham in order to avoid Baba Kedar’s wrath.
