PNS | DEHRADUN
The senior leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party has asked cabinet minister Prem Chand Aggarwal to exercise restraint in public life and use appropriate language after his recent remark about people from mountainous areas elicited widespread criticism across the State.
The BJP said that Uttarakhand belongs to everyone and maintaining harmony is a shared responsibility. The party also urged all individuals to refrain from making unnecessary statements on social media and other platforms. Aggarwal met with BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt and State general secretary (organisation) Ajaey Kumar at the party headquarters here on Sunday. During the meeting, he clarified his position regarding the ongoing controversy surrounding the statement he had made during the recently concluded Vidhan Sabha session.
Bhatt stated that the discussion was related to proceedings inside the Assembly in his capacity as Parliamentary Affairs minister. The leadership stated that the atmosphere created in the State due to misunderstandings or other reasons was not appropriate. The party expects Aggarwal to choose his words carefully and act with restraint. Bhatt said that Aggarwal explained that the meaning being derived from his statements was not what he had intended to say. He further stated that if there was any offensive language used, it was not in reference to any particular region or group. Bhatt stated that Aggarwal had already expressed regret over the issue and had once again apologised before the party leadership. He added that the minister was born in Uttarakhand and has been associated with statehood and activist movements.
Bhatt said that Uttarakhand belongs to everyone and maintaining its harmony is a collective responsibility. He also urged people to avoid unnecessary provocations on the issue. He claimed that some individuals were trying to create divisions within society and that certain political statements were irresponsible. He pointed to recent municipal elections in Rishikesh, where caste and regional identity were highlighted as issues and mentioned that a Congress MLA had called for physical violence against a public representative. The BJP believes that those who seek to disrupt unity in the State are responsible for such narratives, he said.
It will be recalled that protests were held in various parts of the State by politicians and others against Aggarwal’s statement. On Sunday, he went to the Ganga’s banks in Rishikesh seeking the blessing of the goddess and to reiterate that his intentions are unquestionable.
