PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said the Congress party, struggling with a lack of issues, is now attempting to build political narratives based on lies, misinformation and baseless allegations but all its attempts are falling flat on face.
Interacting with the media persons on Friday at his camp office, the CM said that all the allegations of the Congress collapse when the real facts emerge.
The CM said that the Congress party tried to play the Dalit card by raising the Haldwani ‘purification’ incident but when it emerged that the incident had nothing to do with any individual and five persons involved were from scheduled caste community, the attempt by Congress to vitiate the social harmony in the State failed.
He said that a similar approach was adopted with the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB) with the Congress alleging that 7,000 bighas of land had been allocated to private players. Dhami said that the fact is that only 45 acres of land has been provided to the Board so far. He said the UIIDB’s objective is to increase investment, economic activity and employment opportunities in the State through tourism and infrastructure development. On Congress party’s allegations regarding power purchases, the CM said that before raising questions, Congress should also account for the decisions made during its regime. He said that the State has to pad to pay up to Rs 31.71 per unit for gas based power due to a power agreement signed during the Congress government whereas the current government, keeping in mind the State’s long-term energy needs, has ensured the provision of 1320 MW of power at a rate of approximately Rs 5.74 per unit for 25 years.
Referring to the Ankita Bhandari case, the CM said that due to prompt action by the government the three accused in the case have been sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court. On the request of Ankita’s parents, the State government recommended a CBI investigation into the case. “Ankita was our daughter. The government has stood firmly for justice for her from day one and will continue to take every necessary step in accordance with the law. In such a sensitive case, the judicial process should be respected rather than political accusations and counter-accusations,’’ he said.
