By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Mussoorie, 24 Jan: Former cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat, who is presently in the political wilderness, was here, today, to attend a private function.
He claimed in an interaction with media that, in the coming 2024 elections, the BJP would lose more than 100 seats, while the Congress would gain just as much. The Congress would total 150-250 seats in 2024. He alleged that, if there had been no Pulwama attack in 2019, BJP would have lost a hundred seats. He said it is a misfortune in Uttarakhand that no recruitment has been conducted by the government in a fair manner. Recently, the Patwari recruitment scam had exposed the government of Uttarakhand’s claims on zero tolerance towards corruption. In the past, whenever there was a big accident or scam, the minister concerned used to resign immediately, but no action had been taken against the minister or high officials.
He said no scam could happen without the involvement of officials. The government of Uttarakhand had completely failed to expose the wrongdoing. He said that every time the government talks about making thousands of appointments, these are falling prey to scams.
He said that, as Disaster Management Minister in the Tiwari Government, he had wanted to establish disaster management centres at the district level. He alleged that the bureaucracy and finance department of that time did not allow it to happen. Displaced people were given proper compensation for the Tehri Dam project. After the disaster in Joshimath, the affected people are not getting proper compensation, nor are they being rehabilitated properly. He alleged that people do not get the right compensation under the rules of disaster management. Considering the frequent disasters that occur in Uttarakhand, the government should formulate a solid disaster management policy in the state.
Rawat said that, if the Congress invites him to contest the Lok Sabha elections, he would work to strengthen the party and the organisation. He would not contest the assembly elections. In 2014, he contested for the Congress at the Pauri Lok Sabha seat, and had got over 2 lakh votes. He expressed his willingness to contest if given the chance.
