Friday, 06 June 2025 | Gajendra Singh Negi | Dehradun
Babus banished
The decision of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to suspend two IAS officers and one officer of PCS cadre in the Haridwar Municipal Corporation land scam case has shocked the babudom of the Himalayan State. The stern action seems to have jolted the Babus, especially belonging to the elite services with many of them considering the State as their personal fiefdom and with a firm belief that they are immune from any punitive action. Young CM deserves kudos for the bold action on the big Babus which proved that ‘zero tolerance on corruption’ is not merely a rhetoric. The CM should now ensure that an in-depth investigation is carried out in the case and all those involved in the case of bleeding of the State exchequer by the criminal conspiracy of the officers which ended in purchase of a piece of 2.3070 hectares of land by the Municipal Corporation of Haridwar at exorbitant price are exposed and booked. One hopes that the investigation in the MCH land scam case does not meet the fate of the infamous NH-74 scam case of 2017 in which the big fishes were left off the hook.
Continuing clout
The decision of the State administration to extend the deputation of Narvada Gusain to the post of registrar, Bharatiya Chikitsa Parishad, Uttarakhand for two more years has come as a surprise for many in the State. Gusain is an assistant teacher in the education department posted in the Government Girls Inter College, Lansdowne in Pauri district. She was sent on deputation from the Education department to the plum assignment in Dehradun in April, 2022. The blessed teacher happens to be the mother in law of the son of Harak Singh Rawat, the mercurial politician of the Himalayan State and mother of the actress turned politician Anukriti Gusain who had unsuccessfully contested last Vidhan Sabha election on Congress ticket but later switched to the BJP camp. The critics point out that though Harak Singh Rawat is in Congress party and is facing the heat of Enforcement Directorate and Central Bureau of Investigation in separate cases, he and his family still hold clout in the system.
Heroic Harish
Seemingly undeterred by advancing age and a series of electoral setbacks, Harish Rawat, the grand old man of Congress party is continuing to grab public attention with his comments, social media activity, tours and parties promoting local produces and delicacies. In recent times, he has participated in Nyay Yatra in Kumaon region and taken out Ganga Samman Yatra in Uttarkashi, Pauri and Tehri districts of the State. In what appears an attempt to counter the Hindutva plank of ruling BJP, the Congress stalwart was recently seen in Badrinath and Adi Kailash immersed in deep devotion and spirituality. During this period, Rawat also threw well attended Kafal and Kakdi parties which grabbed public and media attention. Though Rawat has claimed that he is focussing on promoting Uttarakhandiyat and will not contest the Vidhan Sabha election of 2027, his comment that he will help the grand old party in the contest has made it clear that the willy leader is not ready to retire and has set his eyes firmly on the electoral battle of 2027.
