PIONEER NEWS SERVICE | Dehradun
Finance and Parliamentary Affairs minister minister Prem Chand Aggarwal submitted his resignation to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday. His resignation comes after mounting pressure and widespread protests over his controversial remarks against the Pahadi people during the budget session in the Vidhan Sabha last month.
Following his statement, there was growing demand for his resignation, with protests erupting across the State. Addressing a Press conference at his residence in Dehradun on Sunday evening, Aggarwal, who is also the Rishikesh MLA, became emotional while announcing his resignation. Later, he visited the CM residence to formally submit his resignation to Dhami. During the Press conference earlier, Aggarwal defended the statement he made during budget session, saying he had already clarified his stance in the Assembly on the same day. He asserted that his words were misinterpreted and that the controversial remark did not target either the mountainous or plain regions of Uttarakhand. He further stated that certain groups on social media deliberately created a misleading narrative against him.
Expressing his disappointment, Aggarwal highlighted his long standing association with the Bharatiya Janata Party and his contributions to the Uttarakhand statehood movement. He stated that despite his dedication to the State, it is sad that people like him are forced to prove their loyalty. “I have also been a part of the Uttarakhand statehood movement, but today, I am being made to prove my contribution to the State. The situation created around me has deeply hurt me, leaving me with no choice but to resign,” he said.
Before announcing his resignation, Aggarwal, accompanied by his wife, visited the Uttarakhand Martyrs’ Memorial at Rampur Tiraha in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. He paid tribute to the martyrs and vowed to work towards the State’s development and maintaining harmony in the State.
