Reacting to BJP chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad's comment that as BJP-led NDA Government comes to power, then Harish Rawat-led Uttarakhand Government would fall automatically, former Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said that since formation of Congress-led State Government in March 13, 2012, BJP is trying its best to topple the Government.
By saying this, they have been creating political instability in the State. Currently, BJP has been running crusade against the State Government by giving advertisements in the media. In its advertisement, BJP alleged that the State Government had failed to address disaster faced by the State in June 2013, during rescue operation and rehabilitation of disaster-affected people even after 11 months of disaster. They also alleged that the State Government failed to restore infrastructure in disaster-affected areas and corruption reached on its peak.
In his counter attack, Bahuguna said that during his tenure as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand (June 2013-January 2014), they had distributed `372 crore among disaster-affected families as compensation. "To ensure 100 per cent distribution of compensation among the recipients, we formed a monitoring committee led by a minister in-charge and its member was local MlA. Not a single complaint about distribution of compensation among need came from either MlA or Opposition before the state so far. No senior leaders including BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sushma Swaraj, lK Advani, Hema Malini, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh and others had visited disaster-affected areas. The BJP PM candidate had however, visited the State and met the then CM when rescue and relief operation were at its full swing. First was Modi asked me to evacuate Gujarati pilgrims, who had struck at Badrinath, on priority basis and second to allow Gujarat government to rebuild Kedarnath. Both requests of Modi were turned down. Thereafter, neither Modi nor any other senior leaders, who visited Uttarakhand as star campaigners, bothered to visit disaster affected areas. Now they are shedding crocodile tears for the sake of vote politics only,” alleged Bahuguna.
For instance, to review the progress report the Union Government had constituted a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) led by BJP senior leader Venkaiah Naidu and JPC has appreciated Uttarakhand Government's effort after disaster. Even they (JPC) submitted their fact finding report to the both houses of the Parliament. Despite all this same party leaders are condemning State Government. It has ascertained our claim that they are doing this for the sake of politics only.
Bahuguna could not hide his grudge against incumbent Chief Minister Harish Rawat's media hype about reopening of Char Dham Yatra, and said that the State had reopened Kedarnath shrine Yatra in September 2013.
Instead of helping the State Government, who have been busy in promoting tourism in the State by facilitating tourist footfalls in Char Dham Yatra, BJP has been creating panic by saying that “if you visit Char Dham, then carry Pall (kafan) with you”.
As far the State Government's achievements are concerned, their Government has given three assured promotions to the State Government employees. As far as Gujarat development is concerned, VAT collection on petrol and diesel in Gujarat is higher than in any other State, he said, adding that even if change of guard happens at the Centre, they would not be able to check price rise.