Sunday, 21 November 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Assets distribution- Cong to oppose the agreement reached with UP
Accusing the BJP government of meekly surrendering the interests of Uttarakhand in the recent agreement reached with Uttar Pradesh (UP) in the long pending distribution of assets case, the former chief minister and head of election campaign committee of Congress party Harish Rawat has said that the party would oppose the agreement lock stock and barrel. Addressing the media persons here on Saturday, Rawat said that in the agreement reached between the CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and UP CM Yogi Adityanath in Lucknow on November 18 which is being claimed as a major achievement of the BJP government, both present day and long term interests of the state have been compromised. He said that the Trivendra Singh Rawat government too had made a similar claim to settle the issue. Tearing into the understanding reached between Yogi and Dhami, the former CM said that as per the agreement fresh survey of the land and other assets of the irrigation department would be done. He reminded that the Trivendra Singh Rawat government had claimed that the assets of the irrigation department would be shared on 75:25 formula but now this has been reversed. Rawat also objected to the clause in the agreement according to which all the court cases regarding distribution of assets would be withdrawn. He said that it meant that the case of Tehri dam in which the state is in a strong position in court would also be withdrawn. Rawat said that in the agreement Uttarakhand has been given the right to operate rafting activities in Begul and Nanaksagar reservoirs which mean that we have conceded them to UP. Similarly Uttarakhand has conceded the claim over Bhimgoda barrage and Upper Ganga canal to UP. Rawat added that in Banbasa and Kichha reservoir the UP would undertake construction work which also means that we have given them to UP. On the case of the transport department, Rawat said that the state has watered down its claim and settled for only Rs 205 crore. Referring Dhami as the weak CM who failed to protect the interests of the people of Uttarakhand, Rawat said that the agreement violates the provisions of UP reorganisation act and is against the principle of natural justice.
The Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ganesh Godiyal said that the Union government in an attempt to give upper hand to BJP in the poll bound UP has pressurised the CM of Uttarakhand to reach an agreement with UP. He said that apart from the assets in Uttarakhand the undivided UP had many properties in different parts of the country and the present regime has handed them all to the UP. Godiyal said that the Congress party would soon chart out its strategy on the issue and oppose the agreement vehemently. A delegation of Congress leaders would soon meet the governor on the issue. The leader of opposition in Uttarakhand assembly Pritam Singh said CM Dhami should explain the condition under which he was forced to reach an agreement with UP.
