Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna held meeting with PCC president Yashpal Arya in Secretariat on Friday after the Khanpur MlA had sent clear message that he is not going to apologise for his outburst against State Transport Minister Surendra Rakesh.
Sources said that Uttarakhand Congress in-charge Ambika Soni has taken this matter very seriously and conveyed her displeasure over the emerging situation. Meanwhile, Khanpur MlA and State Forest Development Corporation Chairman Kunwar Pranav Singh 'Champion' was camping in Delhi to apprise party high command of his stand. Sources said Champion has categorically said that there was nothing wrong to warn the party about its fate ahead of upcoming general election. If it is crime, he would not commit such crime again and again.
Bahuguna had sent his close confidant MlA Subodh Uniyal at Champion's residence on Thursday. Champion, however, categorically said that he would not speak to anyone in Dehradun and will put his views before the party high command sending clear message that he is not going to apologise for his remark. Meanwhile, some party workers defended Champion's outburst saying the issues raised by him were not wrong. Whatever Cabinet Minister is doing is in public.
Citing ongoing State Transport Union members strike, they said employees are against decision of State Transport Authority about issuance of permit to the private bus operator to operate from ISBT. They said Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC), which runs vehicle for the public convenience, will face huge financial loss and ultimately collapsed. People have been blaming Congress-led State Government for this ongoing standoff between STA and employees' union. This will impact result of upcoming lok Sabha election in the State, they added.
They, however, were critical about the language that MlA Champion had used. He should have avoided such a harsh language to express his grudge against the Government, they added. Party workers opined that it would have been better if Champion had apprised to the Chief Minister in person and put his voice before him. Party workers rued Government's silence on public issues. They said during election party leaders put pressure on them to convince voters but now Government is silent on public concerns.