Saturday, 31 AUGUST 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The sensational statement made recently by the independent MLA from Khanpur, Umesh Kumar in the Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha about controversial Gupta brothers and their alleged attempts to destabilize the Pushkar Singh Dhami government is continuing to create political furore in Uttarakhand. Kumar had claimed in the house during the monsoon session of Assembly in Bharadisain that the Gupta brothers with support of politicians and bureaucrats are trying to topple the BJP government in Uttarakhand and for this they are ready to spend a sum of Rs 500 crore.
The former chief ministers Trivendra Singh Rawat, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank (both BJP) and Harish Rawat (Congress) have reacted strongly to the sensational claim made by Kumar and have asked the State government and Vidhan Sabha Speaker to order an investigation in the issue.
Ex- CM and former Union Education minister Nishank asked Kumar to prove his allegation with concrete evidence. He added that the State government should investigate the issue. Nishank said that the sanctity of the Vidhan Sabha should be maintained and it should not be made a platform to level baseless allegations. He requested the Assembly speaker Ritu Bhushan Khanduri to take cognisance of the issue and give her verdict.
Taking a dig at the claim made by Kumar, Congress stalwart and former CM Harish Rawat said that the smoke shows simmering fire within the ruling party. He also said that those having expertise in toppling the government are now showing their skills in the BJP.
Another former CM and BJP MP from Haridwar, Trivendra Singh Rawat said that the claim made by Kumar in the Assembly is a serious issue. He questioned the silence of the MLAs on the subject and added that the speaker should get Kumar’s statement investigated. Rawat supported Nishank’s comment on the issue and said that the former CM understands the parliamentary democracy from the past 35 years. He expressed surprise at the fact that not even a single MLA objected to the claim made by the Khanpur MLA.
Meanwhile the Vidhan Sabha speaker said that the Assembly speaker takes cognisance of the objections by any member on the issue raised by another member and can issue an order from the chair. In the case of the claim made by Kumar, no member had raised any objection.
