Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami listed the achievements of the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the State government while criticising the Congress on various issues while addressing the public on the last day of campaigning in the Bageshwar Assembly by-election on Sunday. Addressing a large public gathering at Kafligair, Dhami said that the Congress had given a slogan to eradicate poverty but the party’s government increased the woes of the poor instead of eradicating poverty. Recalling the late MLA and cabinet minister Chandan Ram Dass, he said that Dass was always concerned about the welfare of the people in his constituency. “He consistently approached me to get various works including construction of roads, drinking water projects and other works done in his constituency. It is difficult to find a person like him who was so dedicated to serving the people of his constituency. This election is not about a person but about taking forward his works and fulfilling his dreams for the constituency,” said the CM.

Targetting the Congress he said that the party had ruled the country for about 60 years and out of that one family had ruled for 55 years. They gave the slogan of eradicating poverty but instead caused more woes to the poor. “Under Congress governments, the Indian soldiers were unable to respond with bullets when they were shot at by the enemy along the borders. However, PM Modi has given a free hand to the armed forces and now the soldiers respond to firing by the enemy with bullets,” Dhami said.

In Uttarakhand, there were major malpractices in competitive examinations and those with resources were able to pass instead of those who studied hard. “We brought a strict anti-copying law to ensure that there are no malpractices in such competitive exams and that justice is done to the meritorious students,” he said.

The CM further said that considering the large number of people who had gathered on the occasion, he is confident that the nationalist people of Bageshwar who accord priority to the heritage and culture of Uttarakhand is ready to make the BJP’s lotus blossom in the Bageshwar by-election. 

The BJP State president Mahendra Bhatt, party candidate Parvati Dass and MP Ajay Tamta along with other party leaders were also present on the occasion.