Cong terms the step too late, politically motivated
Tuesday 19th October, 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
By naming the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation (SIIDCUL) industrial estate at Pantnagar after former chief minister Late Narayan Dutt Tiwari the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has played a political masterstroke which has pushed the opposition Congress on back foot. The CM made the announcement on the eve of his anniversary on Sunday. Tiwari’s birth and death anniversary falls on October 18. The declaration of Dhami is being considered an effort by the ruling BJP to snatch the legacy of Late Tiwari from the Congress party.
On Monday the CM Dhami also offered tributes to Tiwari by garlanding his picture.
Dhami said that Tiwari always worked for all round development of Uttarakhand in his capacities as CM of Uttar Pradesh (UP), Uttarakhand and union minister.
The naming of the industrial estate at Pantnagar after Tiwari assumes significance since he is considered as the person responsible for industrial development of Uttarakhand. It was during Tiwari’s stint as CM when a special economic package was given to the nascent state at the time of NDA government under Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The ten year package in which various sops were offered to entrepreneurs including a tax holiday was responsible for setting up industrial units in many parts of the state. The former CM is also credited with converting Uttarakhand into an education hub and is often called Vikas Purush for his achievements. By naming the SIIDCUL located at Pantnagar after Tiwari, CM Dhami has also tried to placate the Kumauni Brahmins and has given a message that he has risen above party politics to honour Tiwari who was a Congressmen for most part of his illustrious political career spanning more than 70 years.
The vice president of Uttarakhand BJP, Devendra Bhasin said that by naming the industrial estate after Narayan Dutt Tiwari, the CM Dhami has risen above politics and honoured the late leader. He added that while BJP has honoured Tiwari, Congressmen like Harish Rawat used to insult him.
Questioning the timing of the government move, the spokesperson of Uttarakhand Congress Garima Dasauni said that Tiwari’s stature is too high and he does not need any certificate by BJP. She said that Uttarakhand would always remain indebted to Tiwari and by naming Pantnagar SIIDCUL after him it is actually BJP which has honoured.
