BJP trying to divert public attention from Dharali, disaster mismanagement: Godiyal

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun

 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ganesh Godiyal has said that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is deliberately raising the issue of comment made by the Congress leader Harak Singh Rawat in order to divert attention from the issue of Dharali disaster and failure of the State government in disaster management works. Interacting with the media persons at Rajiv Bhawan on Monday, the PCC president said that though both the parties involved in the derogatory comment controversy on Sikh community, Harak Singh Rawat and the Sikh community have sorted out the issue after apology tendered by the Congress leader, the BJP is continuing to raise the issue in order to divert attention from the issues of missing people in Dharali disaster and the increasing attacks of wild animals particularly bears and leopard on humans in mountainous areas of the State.

 It is worth mentioning here that Harak Singh Rawat while addressing agitating lawyers in Dehradun recently, inadvertently made a comment against Sikh community which was objected to by the lawyers. Though Rawat realised his mistake and sought an apology, some Sikh organisations held a protest in Dehradun on Saturday. Following the protest, the PCC president Godiyal, former chief minister Harish Rawat and leader of opposition Yashpal Arya tendered apology for the comment. Harak Singh Rawat himself visited the Paunta Sahib Gurudwara on Sunday where he engaged in Kar Sewa as repentance of his sin. Former CM Harish Rawat also offered Sewa at Race Course Gurudwara in Dehradun on Monday.