By ARUN PRATAP SINGH
DEHRADUN, 30 Nov: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami addressed a short press conference today. As expected, the topic was centred around the dissolution of the Devasthanam Board. After a busy day of touring the state, Dhami reached his official residence in the evening to address the press at his meeting hall. Formally announcing the decision of the government to dissolve the Devasthanam Board, Dhami said that he had taken over as the chief minister of Uttarakhand on 4 July, Ever since then, a large number of Teerth Purohits, seers and sages, representatives of Panda Samaj as well as various public representatives had been meeting him and sharing their opinion in respect of the formation of Uttarakhand Devasthanam Board. Dhami said that it was then, that the government decided to set up a high level committee under the chairmanship of very experienced and veteran BJP leader Manohar Kant Dhyani to study the issue and make its recommendations after meeting the teerth purohits as well as other stake holders. This Committee had earlier submitted an interim report to the government and then two days ago, it submitted its final report. A Cabinet Sub Committee chaired by Cabinet Minister Satpal Maharaj studied the report and ultimately the government decided that in view of the general feelings of the stakeholders and the circumstances, it would be appropriate to withdraw the Act related to constitution of Devasthanam Board two years ago. Dhami said that he was thankful to all for their cooperation and claimed that in future, the government would mull on how to ensure better arrangements in respect of the Char Dham temples and allied shrines. He added that it would the endeavour of his government to ensure development of Devbhumi Uttarakhand as a religious and cultural capital of the world. He also appealed to the Teerth Purohits and other stakeholders to call off their agitation in view of the decision to dissolve the Board. In response to a question, why the government had to take a U-turn over the issue when every leader had earlier spoken in favour of the Board, Dhami said that many decisions were taken according to the circumstances and after due consultation with all concerned including the political representatives, it was considered appropriate by the government to withdraw the Act that had been legislated two years ago. In response to another question, Dhami said that Congress was persistently demanding dissolution of the Board and therefore it ought to welcome the government’s decision to dissolve the board. He said that some Congress leaders were strangely commenting on the latest decision of the government which meant that they were not actually happy over fulfilment of their own demand! He also added that his government was committed to make Uttarakhand a leading state by 2025 in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.