Harish Rawat social media post reignites debate on factionalism in Congress
Monday, 28 March 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
Former chief minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat has sparked a debate on factionalism within the Congress with a social media post on Sunday. He stated that among those who were leveling baseless allegations at him on social media, some persons connected to a Congress leader are also targeting him along with BJP supporters.
Rawat who lost the Assembly election from Lalkuan wrote in the post, “I was stuck in an unwanted electoral battle about 241 kilometres away and did not find the time to enquire about happenings till March 3-4. Where did the issue of a university spring from, who raised it and who made made that person the party’s vice president- is a story now known clearly to people of the state. One fact which is still unclear is- who sent the person making an explosive statement as an observer to Haridwar Rural and on whose directions.The intentions behind the move are clear though- some people after making arrangements for the father had become busy in attempts to ensure my daughter’s defeat in the constituency,” said Rawat referring to his daughter Anupama Rawat who ended up winning from Haridwar Rural.
He further said that he knew that if he sits on a protest fast at the Congress office demanding a probe into the matter, the AICC will have to constitute an independent high level probe. He said that considering the deep wounds sustained by the party, he doesn’t wish to worsen the situation by scratching his own wounds. “However, I also have to negate the false allegations and misinformation targeted at me while unmasking those involved in such activities. I have decided that I have to expose the BJP elements and the Congress-chhap misinformers of a particular leader.”
Rawat further recalled that he had challenged those behind a Facebook page aligned to the BJP to provide 10 copies of the newspaper which had purportedly carried a report with his statement on the university issue. Rawat had earlier announced a reward of Rs 50,000 to the person providing him the newspaper copies and has increased the reward money to Rs one lakh. “If any newspaper has been published, it must have a registration number, publisher, printer and distributor along with the name of its editor and correspondent. I challenge the BJP and Congress-chhap persons to bring such newspapers where I have made such a statement. The day when these facts come out in a certified form, I will announce my retirement from politics while sitting in front of Gandhiji’s statue,” he added.
