Hailing the Supreme Court order to reinstate the Congress-led Government in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said on Wednesday that the order has not just strengthened the democratic structure as enshrined in the Constitution but also gladdened the people across the country who are championing the cause of democracy.
He also expressed thanks to High Court along with the Apex Court on the matter. He called for a dispassionate view of the order, saying that no one should view it through the prism of defeat or victory. “We should rather respect the view of the constitutional expects that the Centre and the states should work together in a spirit of mutual cooperation. We should respect each other and not view each other as enemies. The Apex Court order has given direction to the people who have been working under the constitutional system,” Harish Rawat said.
Commenting on the controversy over the statue of Shaktimaan, CM said that the decisions to name a roundabout after the deceased State horse and installation of its statue are final. “We would rather install a better statue in a new design. I took the decision to defer the unveiling of the statue in the police line premises. It would be unveiled at the right time,” he said.
He asked the politicians not to act on hidden agenda. “We would also install the statues of the martyrs who laid down their lives for the formation of the State at the appropriate places. But please refrain from seeing politics everywhere,” he said, in a veiled attack to BJP slamming the state government for playing politics with the sentimental matter.
Talking about the stir by UPNl employees, Harish Rawat said that they should understand that the State Government works under certain boundaries. “We are limited by the constitution too. We have been continuously working to ensure a better future of the UPNl employees. We have been working mainly on a two-point agenda. We stress on recruiting them against the vacant posts while keeping in view the matter of reservation. Secondly, in accordance with the reservation rules, we are focused on regularizing them. We have been busy while scrutinising things from the legal standpoint,” he said.
Dwelling on the termination of UPNl employees, CM said they were studying the case. “If it is found that they have been terminated on flimsy grounds they would be re-employed soon,” he said. He assured that wherever UPNl employees are working the state government would neither appoint anyone through transfer nor send fresh requisition for recruitment. “We have already increased their salary by Rs 3000 per month. They should take note of our benevolence,” CM added.
Talking about the women empowerment, CM said that Uttarakhand would be the first state where women entrepreneur park is being developed. “With this park coming up, the women entrepreneurs would get major fillip. Many women would reap its benefit in course of time. I would participate in a debate on ‘women entrepreneurs: new opportunity in Uttarakhand’ to be organised by FICCI women wing in Delhi on July 15,” he stated.
Replying to a question on the State budget to be presented during the specially convened two-day Assembly session beginning on July 20, CM said that they were engaged in finding out the middle path. “State’s appropriation bill was passed by the Union government and we have spoken with the Union finance minister as well. After thorough consultation, we have sent the appropriation bill to the Governor. Things must be cleared at the earliest as the indecisive state of things is slowing down the pace of state’s development. State has approximately lost six months in futile round of quibbling. No more time should be lost. To ensure this, both the ruling party and the Opposition will have to cooperate with each other,” he said, adding that he would personally meet the Prime Minister to discuss the issues facing the State.
Talking about the incessant rains, CM said that the state is receiving impact of climate change. “We would try to ensure minimum damage to the roads due to the rain. Char dham yatra counts much for the state’s economy. We must have to keep it going,” he said.