Condolence meeting held in Doon to pay tribute to BC Khanduri
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 1 Jun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a condolence meeting at the Late Harbansh Kapoor Memorial Community Hall in Garhi Cantt, where he offered floral tributes to the portrait of former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and former Union Minister Maj Gen (Retd) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri. It may be recalled that Khanduri had passed away on 19 May after a prolonged illness in a private hospital in Dehradun.
Paying rich tribute to late Khanduri on this occasion, Dhami said that Khanduri’s personality was multifaceted and that he devoted every moment of his life to the service of the nation and society as a disciplined soldier, farsighted administrator, ideal public representative and architect of Uttarakhand’s development. He described him as a symbol of duty, honesty, simplicity and national service, whose life will continue to inspire integrity and dedication in public life.
Recalling his military career, Dhami said that Khanduri displayed exceptional courage, leadership and strategic skill during the 1971 India–Pakistan war and contributed significantly to engineering works of the Army, particularly in developing border areas and building infrastructure. He was awarded the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal (AVSM) for his distinguished services, which stands as proof of his devotion to duty.
Dhami said that even after retirement from the Army, Khanduri remained committed to public service. Elected as Member of Parliament from Garhwal in 1991, he strongly raised the demand for a separate Uttarakhand state in Parliament and represented the region five times, bringing the voice of the hills to the national stage. His powerful ideas and commitment to public interest gave new energy to the statehood movement.
The CM reminded that Khanduri’s personality and philosophy of life remain a source of inspiration for the youth. He added that he considered himself fortunate to have received Khanduri’s affection, guidance and blessings from time to time, which shaped his own public life. Dhami recalled that as Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Khanduri played a remarkable role in strengthening the country’s infrastructure, giving momentum to ambitious projects such as the Golden Quadrilateral and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. As Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, he laid the foundation of good governance, transparency and accountability, giving a new direction to the state’s development.
Dhami said that despite holding high offices, Khanduri never compromised on his principles and values. He always remained among the people and considered solving their problems his foremost priority. His working style set an example for public representatives and administrators alike.
The CM said that Khanduri’s demise is not only an irreparable loss for Uttarakhand but also for the entire nation. With his passing, an era has ended, yet his thoughts, ideals, work and values will continue to guide society. He urged the people present to imbibe Khanduri’s ideals and work tirelessly towards building Uttarakhand in line with his vision.
Among those present at the condolence meeting included Assembly Speaker and daughter of Khanduri, Ritu Khanduri, former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari, former CM Tirath Singh Rawat, several MLAs including Vinod Chamoli, Swami Ramdev, Khanduri’s son Manish Khanduri, several seers, eminent citizens and a large number of admirers.
