PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/DEHRADUN
The chairman of the Uttarakhand State Ex-Servicemen Welfare Advisory Council, Ajay Kothiyal on Wednesday questioned the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s proposed interaction with the ex-servicemen in Pauri during his two-day Uttarakhand visit, alleging that the programme was aimed at garnering their political support ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Addressing a press conference at the Uttaranchal Press Club on Wednesday, Kothiyal alleged that the Congress leader had paid no attention to Uttarakhand in recent years. “He has just woken up from his slumber with elections approaching,” he said.
He asked Gandhi to first apologise to the family of late chief of defence staff, General Bipin Rawat over derogatory remarks made by Congress leaders in the past. “Pauri holds special significance as the birthplace of General Rawat,” he added.
The former army officer further criticised Gandhi over his past statements on national security issues, including questions raised by the Congress leader on surgical strikes and other military operations. He alleged that such remarks had affected the morale of the armed forces.
Kothiyal further targeted the Congress over neglected defence preparedness during its tenure at the Centre, alleging that their governments had paid scant attention to military equipment procurement and welfare measures for soldiers. “The people of Uttarakhand, particularly the ex-servicemen community, are aware of the reality and so Gandhi’s political strategy to woo them will fail,” he affirmed.
