By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 17 Feb: The budget session of the Uttarakhand Assembly is set to begin tomorrow in Dehradun. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat has questioned the government’s intention behind holding the budget session in Dehradun and not in Gairsain. On his social media accounts, Rawat has claimed that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami does not want anyone to mention the word ‘Gairsain’ during the budget session. The debate over Gairsain as the capital of Uttarakhand has long been a contentious issue and some years earlier, the then Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had declared Gairsain as the Summer Capital of Uttarakhand. However, there have been few assembly sessions since then in Gairsain for one or the other reasons.
The issue of making Gairsain the capital of Uttarakhand has always been a topic of political discussion. While both Congress and BJP governments have come and gone, none have shown a genuine commitment to Gairsain. Some sessions have been held there, but no serious consideration has been given to Gairsain. When the demand for making it the capital arose, it was hastily declared the summer capital.
There are political leaders as well as parties like Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), who still hold Gairsain as the permanent capital of Uttarakhand as their core issue and they claim that this is tied to the sentiments of the people of Uttarakhand. However, despite making Gairsain its core political issue, UKD has not been able to hold much traction in the state politics.
When the BJP is power, the Congress attacks the government over Gairsain, and vice versa. This time, the budget session is being held in Dehradun, bringing Gairsain into the spotlight again. Former Chief Minister Harish Rawat’s social media post has added fuel to the fire.
Harish Rawat, the former CM and veteran Congress leader, has shared a post on social media stating that ‘a very interesting piece of information has come out from the sources in power’. He adds that the CM has instructed his advisors, associates, and senior officials to ensure that the word ‘Gairsain’ is not mentioned anywhere during the current budget session. He does not want to hear that word. While the reasoning is understood, is it even possible, questions Rawat.
Rawat further writes that many political parties and various forces are committed to Gairsain, but the issue has been betrayed. If there is no summer session in the summer capital, will the word ‘Gairsain’ not echo on the streets of Dehradun this time? Political analysts will closely monitor this possibility, he expressed hope.
Rawat also mentioned his meeting with the Leader of the Opposition, Yashpal Arya, discussing several people’s issues, including Gairsain. Rawat claimed that this meeting has got those in power worried about the possibility of Gairsain being raised in the Assembly.
Rawat has further claimed that sources have revealed that this information has reached the CM who has now instructed officials to shut down all ACs in the Assembly complex to avoid the cold if the word ‘Gairsain’ is mentioned in the Assembly. Rawat speculated that, possibly, the Finance Minister may present the budget wrapped in a blanket.
On the other hand, following Harish Rawat’s post, BJP spokesperson Manveer Singh Chauhan said that the government does not decide where the session will be held; it is the Assembly’s responsibility. He added that it would be better if Harish Rawat viewed the government’s work positively, noting that the upcoming budget would be a development budget for Uttarakhand.
