Still thick in the crisis that started with the Assembly ruckus on March 18, former Chief Minister Harish Rawat is now out on the streets of Dehradun on a foot march. He began the march on March 31.
Detractors say he is intent on neutralising the adverse impact that the sting CD has left on the collective mind. Nullifying the impact is an imperative for the former CM so that he could use the political crisis to the hilt to trigger a sympathy wave for him, his critics said. The CD has dented his perceived integrity a great deal as it purportedly showed Rawat as saying that he would look the other way if the rebels siphon off crores as a price of their returning to the Congress folds.
However, Saturday’s pada yatra was marred by BJP and Congress activists coming to blows over the former showing Rawat black flags. Stones were said to have been pelted, though Rawat was unhurt. Police rushed to the spot and dispersed the warring groups.
He started the foot march from General Mahadev Singh Road. It ended at Sadhu Ram Inter-College. Harping on the dismissal theme, a visibly upset Rawat said that money and muscle unleashed by BJP had spawned the grave political crisis, culminating in his dismissal, sans the assured floor test. “We apprehend that the all-inclusive Budget, focused on uplifting every segment of the society, would be nullified by the Centre,” he said. He elaborated at length how the Budget, his dream one, could prove a windfall for comprehensive development if allowed to be implemented.
Dwelling on his Government’s achievements, Rawat said that the State's per capita income having crossed to `1.73 lakh from `1.54 lakh has made it a fast developing State. He did not forget to mention that the State under his Government stood at the bottom of the corruption ladder as per the survey.
launching a blistering attack on PM Narendra Modi, Rawat reminded the people of the ‘false’ promises he had rolled out to the people ahead of the general eleciton-2014. “Have you received `15 lakh as promisedIJ” he asked the people, found listening to him. Sounding emotional while stating his dedication to the cause of the State, he said that he had not taken rest even for a single day after he had fractured his neck. “My resolve to work for the State would never waver,” he said.
However, things ruptured as the march was crossing Balliwala, near the under-construction flyover. Some persons sprang up and waved black flags to the former CM. Stone pelting started as the Congress workers chased the BJP protestors. People fled in fear of the violence to escalate. Rawat, however, remained unhurt, though the wind screen of his car received a scratch. Police led by DGP and Dehradun SSP Sadanand Date rushed in. The PCC said it had exposed BJP’s sinister plan to murder democracy. A statement issued by the party said the people have been watching things and the votaries of Fascism would be adequately punished in the coming days.