By Arun Pratap Singh
Gairsain (Bhararisain), 21 Aug: The monsoon session of the State Assembly began today in the summer capital of the state, Gairsain. On the first day, tributes were paid to Shaila Rani Rawat, MLA from Kedarnath, who passed away on 9 July this year, and to Kailash Chandra Gahtori, former MLA from Champawat, who passed away on 3 May this year. Both Shaila Rani Rawat and Kailash Chandra Gahtori passed away after prolonged battles with Cancer. It may also be recalled that though Gahtori had been re-elected as MLA from Champawat in the 2022 assembly elections, he had vacated his seat to enable Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami contest from there.
Before the session began, today, floral tributes were paid by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya, Ministers Subodh Uniyal and Ganesh Joshi along with other members by offering flowers before the portraits of both the leaders kept in the House Gallery. Later, in the House, rich tributes were paid by the CM and other members to both the leaders in the pre-lunch sitting, after which the House was adjourned till 5 p.m.
CM Dhami, being the Leader of the House was the first member to pay tributes to Shaila Rani Rawat and Kailash Gahtori. Dhami said that Shaila Rani Rawat always stood with the people of Kedarnath assembly constituency in their struggles. He stated that her passing away has left a void in state politics and particularly in her constituency. Her departure is an irreparable loss. Dhami reminded members that Shaila Rani Rawat was a strong leader who used to meet everyone with great affection. She kept raising the issues of the state and the region in an effective manner. The CM said that Rawat dedicated her entire life to social service and public welfare, and she was always ready to serve the people of her area. The Chief Minister added that he had the opportunity to meet her many times and she always gave affection to him like her younger brother. He asserted that he had many vivid memories associated with her. The Chief Minister said that even when she lost her election in 2017 though she had worked hard for the safety and welfare of the local people and the pilgrims in the wake of the Kedarnath tragedy in 2013, she used to come with the local people to meet the ministers to get their problems resolved. Her work will continue to inspire everyone in the state.
The CM reminded the House that Shaila Rani Rawat was born on 7 January 1956 in village Gadoliya of Tehri district and that she held many important responsibilities in her life. In the year 2012, she was elected for the first time from Kedarnath Assembly. After that she was re-elected in the year 2022.
On this occasion, CM Dhami also paid rich tributes to former MLA Kailash Chandra Gahtori, who had won the assembly election for the first time in 2017, and had managed to retain his constituency with a big margin but had chosen to vacate his seat to enable CM Dhami to contest from Champawat. Later Gahtori was appointed as Chairman of Uttarakhand Forest Development Corporation, which was the first Lal Batti appointment of the current government.
Dhami said that the passing away of Gahtori is a huge personal loss to him besides being a significant loss for the state. The Chief Minister claimed that Gahtori had regularly guided him and advised him on many important issues. He was fully dedicated to the development of Champawat region. In his lifetime, he helped people not only through government schemes but also on the personal level with a sense of great sacrifice and magnanimity, which Dhami claimed were his unique characteristics. Dhami also reminded that when he lost his assembly election from Khatima, Gahtori still continued to support him and announced the decision to vacate his seat for him (Dhami). The CM promised that he remains committed to fulfil every dream of Gahtori who has left the responsibility of Champawat with him.
Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya also praised the hard work and dedication to the people of Shaila Rani Rawat and reminded that she had a humble beginning in politics but reached the House twice through her hard work and dedication. Arya also lavished praise on Kailash Gahtori and said that he was a committed social worker.
Ministers Subodh Uniyal, Ganesh Joshi, Saurabh Bahuguna, Rekha Arya, MLAs Munna Singh Chauhan, Banshidhar Bhagat, Vinod Chamoli, Sarita Arya, Bishan Singh Chufal, Arvind Pandey, Vinod Kandari, Deputy leader of Congress Legislative Party, Bhuwan Kapri and leader of the BSP Legislative Party Mohammed Shahzad were among the members who paid rich tributes to the departed souls. Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan also associated herself with the tributes and stated that she would pass on the condolence messages on behalf of the members to the bereaved families.
Later, the House was adjourned till 5 p.m. There was no Question Hour, though the members have put up 490 questions for the current session.
