Amit Shah’s visit uninspiring: CM

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, June 27

Chief Minister Harish Rawat has termed BJP national president Amit Shah’s visit to Haridwar and Haldwani as uninspiring. He said his visit aimed at dodging the core issues that confront the state due to the Centre’s refusal to release the state’s budget.

Rawat said the visit was disappointing in more than one way as he did not address the core issues confronting the state. “Our budget is in the captivity of the Centre. They have not released Rs 400 crore meant for Uttarakhand under the Special Plan Assistance and externally aided funds. Bitten by election phobia, Shah focused on abusing us and hurling charges of corruption against us at Haridwar and Haldwani,” he said.

Rawat said the manner in which Shah sidetracked issues troubling the state, it appeared as if he came with an agenda of abusing the Congress on corruption. “He made it sound as though corruption was the only thing in Uttarakhand. I ask the BJP and challenge them to point at one instance of financial irregularity by the government,” he said.

Rawat said at both venues, Shah raised the issue of sting drawing the public’s attention away from the derailed development in Uttarakhand. “I am ready to be penalised because I do not want my party to bear the brunt of all this abuse,” he said.

Rawat also attacked Shah and the BJP for rewarding all those who had destabilised the government and had committed crime under the anti-defection law.

Rawat said Dan Singh Bhandari, a former BJP leader, will soon join the Congress after the high command sets the date. He said former BJP MLA Bhim Lal Arya was already a member of the party.