Dharchula MlA Harish Dhami, who has been evading arrest despite issuance of Non Bailable Warrant (NBW) by court order, categorically alleged that he is loyal to Union Cabinet Minister Harish Rawat; so Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s Government is targeting him. He further said that he had submitted an application to the CM to withdraw the case in August 2012 and Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) had referred the letter to Pithoragarh DM and later the DM had confirmed the withdrawal of case. Considering this he has questioned the issuance of an NBW against him.
Media persons asked Dhami how he managed to evade arrest despite issuance of NBW. He was asked, “Don’t you think that the State Government is shielding youIJ” He replied that in 2007 a case was registered against him and he had requested chief minister to withdraw the case in August 2012. “Now court has issued NBW. It means that the State Government did not represent my case seriously before court which is why court has issued NBW. It seems I am being targeted by the CM and his fellows because I belong to Union Minister Harish Rawat’s faction,” he averred. The angry MlA said if Congress party believes that he is not worthy of the party, then they can terminate him from party. He reiterated that he would continue to raise public issues while sitting as independent candidate in Vidhan Sabha.
He also said that once he overcomes this hurdle then he would stage protest outside the chief minister’s residence because he is being harassed by the State Government. Praising Union Minister Rawat, he said that he won the Dharchula Assembly seat with his blessing and will remain loyal to him and people of Dharchula.
‘Dhami courting trouble for himself’
As per section 321 of Cr PC, the State can withdraw any case if it is in public interest. Following on the petition of MlA Dhami, the State Government had sought opinion from district administration Pithoragarh, which had agreed. In 2007, there was a conflict between Munsyari and Maskot people; so police had lodged a complaint against Harish Dhami.
Talking to The Pioneer, Pithoragarh SP Vijay Singh Karki said that State Government had appealed before the court to withdraw the case against MlA Dhami on December 7, 2012, but court refused to withdraw. Meanwhile MlA Dhami had approached the District court but could not get relief. “later Judicial Magistrate issued NBW against the MlA Dhami in March and then Vidhan Sabha session was on so we could not implement the order”.
Political analysts say with this incident it has cleared that
judiciary is not following the State Government’s decision blindly. They also said that by expressing his view through media, MlA Dhami is creating problems for himself. Now it is up to the court how they take his comment.