Saturday, 25 February 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Says his objective now is to work for making U’khand a model State
Allaying the apprehensions being raised in different quarters after his return to Uttarakhand, former Maharashtra governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari said on Friday that he would stay away from active politics. He however added that he would work for the development of Uttarakhand into a model State. He said that though he is not an active member of the BJP, he would continue to support the party. Interacting with the media-persons in ‘meet the press’ programme organised by the Uttaranchal Press Club here on Friday the astute octogenarian politician said that he would not become an alternate power centre. “ I was the governor of a big State like Maharashtra and in a way I was very powerful there but I offered to leave the position,’’ he said.
The former governor said that being a big admirer of the working style of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he wanted to work for at least 15-16 hours a day. “When poor health did not allow me to work 14-16 hours a day I told the PM that I should not continue in my position. I told him that I want to spend the remaining time of my life in reading, writing and social work,’’ he said. Koshyari claimed that the PM asked him to make his intention public, which he did. He said that being the governor of Maharashtra he used to meet hundreds of people daily and was very active even during the Covid-19 pandemic. On his utterances on Jyotiba Phule and Shivaji Maharaj which drew controversy, Koshyari said he never said anything offending about these great personalities. “I am always ready to apologise even to a little child. I could not even think of insulting them,’’ he said.
The former Maharashtra governor reiterated his comment that the former CM of Maharashtra Udhav Thackeray is a saint like person.
Elaborating his future plans, Koshyari said that his only objective now is to make Uttarakhand self-reliant and strong. He added that he is ready to take cooperation from everyone including Harish Rawat in ensuring that the objective of self reliant Uttarakhand is fulfilled. “ Yes I am ready to work with Harish Rawat but not sit on one hour of Maun Vrat with him,’’ he said. The former governor said that he had joined politics to serve the society and never hoped that he would be bestowed with so many positions.
In response to a question on the performance of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, Koshyari said that the work of the CM is being appreciated by everyone including PM Modi. “The CM is working very dedicatedly and he listens attentively to everyone,’’ he said.
