PNS | DEHRADUN
The Bharatiya Janata Party State president Mahendra Bhatt stated that senior leadership of the party in Delhi will decide the course of action against cabinet minister Prem Chand Aggarwal over his alleged offensive remark about Pahadis during the recent Vidhan Sabha session.
During a media interaction on Tuesday, Bhatt was asked whether the party will take any disciplinary action against Aggarwal, who has reportedly hurt the sentiments of many people in the State. In response, he said that the final call on the matter will be taken by the party’s senior leadership in Delhi. The State leadership had already advised Aggarwal on February 23 to exercise restraint in public life and use appropriate language.
Bhatt had stated earlier that the party’s State leadership conveyed to Aggarwal that the atmosphere created in the State due to misunderstandings or other reasons was not appropriate. He had said that Aggarwal explained that the meaning being derived from his statements was not his intention. Bhatt said that since he apologised for his action, the matter should not be discussed and prolonged unnecessarily. However, public discontent persists, with many demanding stricter action against him. Many people and groups continue to stage demonstrations against Aggarwal across the State. It is being speculated that the party’s central leadership may take action against Aggarwal following widespread criticism from people regarding his remark as it can potentially harm BJP in the 2027 Vidhan Sabha elections.
Meanwhile, Bhatt also revealed during the interaction on Tuesday that an expansion of the Uttarakhand cabinet is also expected soon. Four positions have remained vacant for the past three years in the cabinet and they are expected to be filled soon. The cabinet reshuffle is also anticipated to bring in new faces in the cabinet but Bhatt neither denied nor confirmed these speculations.
