PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The State president of Bharatiya Janata Party in Uttarakhand and Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Bhatt questioned former chief minister Harish Rawat’s credibility on raising Gairsain related matters, stating that neither he nor past Congress governments took any concrete steps to declare it the permanent capital of Uttarakhand while in power.
Bhatt said that Rawat had the opportunity to act but failed to do so and now his promises appear disconnected from political reality. He added that for the Congress, regaining public trust has become as distant as an unfulfilled dream. Bhatt also commented on Rawat’s recent Maun Vrat, stating that it holds little value as the public and even Congress workers have already stopped taking his words seriously. He said that people have become familiar with what he described as repeated attempts to stay relevant through symbolic gestures and inconsistent statements.
Rawat had recently stated that he had approved plans and made budgetary provisions to ensure the desired level of development in Gairsain. If the public elect the Congress in the 2027 Vidhan Sabha elections, he will ensure that the works related to Gairsain are executed, the former CM had claimed.
Responding to questions on Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s comment regarding the height of Kanwads, Bhatt said that the BJP government advises keeping the Kanwad height under 10 feet to ensure public safety. He accused Yadav of attempting to portray this as a restriction to mislead devotees. Bhatt said the BJP has not imposed any bans and that the State government continues to respect religious faith while prioritising public order. Bhatt said the current government has strengthened Yatra management and ensured safety without interfering with religious expression.
