PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The Uttarakhand Congress on Saturday demanded that cabinet minister Ganesh Joshi be removed from the cabinet till the completion of an investigation into a corruption-related case, citing the State government’s declared policy of zero tolerance towards corruption. Addressing the media on Saturday, Congress spokesman Pankaj Singh Kshetri said that he had also written to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urging him to uphold the government’s anti-corruption stance by keeping the minister out of office while the probe is underway.
Referring to an order passed by the Special Vigilance Court, Garhwal Range, Dehradun on July 25, Kshetri said that the court had issued a notice directing the respondent to appear on September 3, 2026. He said that while no individual can be considered guilty until proven by a court of law, the government has a constitutional and moral responsibility to ensure a fair and impartial investigation.
Kshetri said that temporarily relieving the minister of his responsibilities during the investigation would reinforce public confidence and send a clear message that the rule of law and ethical standards are above political office.
He also appealed to youths, advocates, social organisations, intellectuals and citizens to join the democratic fight against corruption. To encourage public participation, he announced a helpline number (9412001234) for reporting corruption-related complaints. He said that complaints would be scrutinised and eligible cases would receive free legal assistance and legal representation. Congress spokeswoman Sujata Paul said that moral accountability should take precedence over political protection in corruption cases. The Congress stressed on the need for transparency and an impartial investigation stating that the government should uphold high ethical standards to maintain public trust in democratic institutions.
