Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has strongly condemned the Opposition allegation that District Panchayat member Meena Devi was kidnapped by the ruling party activists and that police did not act on the police complaint lodged by her husband on the matter.
To buttress his claim, CM cited Meena having submitted a petition before the High Court on August 4 wherein she had demanded police protection for discharging her democratic right. "By making such concocted statement, the Opposition has proved themselves to be immature," he said.
"Interestingly, she had appeared before the court along with her family members and demanded police protection to cast her vote in District Panchayat president's election. Had she been kidnapped, she would have told the court as much, but she did not do so. It means she was not kidnapped. She was produced before the court by the police. She further said that she was in touch with her husband over phone. Now, it is clear that the charge that the Opposition and the leader of Opposition have made is nothing less than a bunch of lies," he added.
Congress had won the seat by three votes. Replying to the media queries, CM Rawat categorically said that media is airing irresponsible news to defame the ruling party. "Now the picture is before you," he said, addressing the common people.
He also said that he is against making statement on the comment of the Opposition. "This is because I believe that it is Opposition's right to criticise the state government. Now they are trying to malign the image of the State Government by hurling false charges before the media and this is what has warranted my intervention," Chief Minister Harish Rawat said.