Intensifying its attack on Harish Rawat-led Uttarakhand Government and reacting to Rawat’s claim that he would quit politics if anybody proves that `1509 crore embezzlement had taken place during his term, Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar MP and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshyari has categorically said that Rawat would not quit politics but he will land in jail. He said that as far as confirming the allegation is concerned, he said that the information procured under the Right To Information Act is considered as evidence in the court of law. He said, “In the meantime we are collecting evidence and thus have full faith that we would be proving the orchestration of this scam in the near future. The CM is trying to misguide the public now by making emotional statements like his readiness to quit politics. Rawat cannot shirk his responsibility to the people of Uttarakhand by making sentimental statements. However, the allegation would be proven true and the CM will end up behind the bars,” said the MP.
Referring to the destruction caused by the June 2013 disaster, Koshyari said that Harish Rawat had managed to topple the then Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna by raking up the issue successfully with the party high command. later it came to light that a considerable amount of `1509 crore released for disaster related works was missing from the Government records. The MP said, “The CM has made the emotional statement mainly to confuse the public. However, the BJP will prove the Rs1509 crore embezzlement which will result in his being jailed and preventing him from quitting politics,” said the MP.
It is pertinent to mention here that in response to the BJP alleging misappropriation of Rs1509 crore meant for disaster related works, Chief Minister Harish Rawat had addressed the media in the State capital on January 8 and declared that he would quit politics if the embezzlement charge is proved true.
Reiterating his earlier stance on the issue, he had said the sum in question basically amounts to the difference between the amount the Central Government had purportedly allotted and the amount which the State Government had actually received. “The mystery of missing funds is a concoction cooked up by the opposition. let them prove that there is substance in the allegations and I will quit politics immediately,” the CM had said.
Asked whether he was ready for a CBI probe into the matter as is being demanded by the opposition, the CM had said that the FIR had to be lodged first.
Quizzed further by The Pioneer on whether he would refer the case to CBI if the Opposition lodges an FIR in the case, Rawat had rebuffed it stating that he was not supposed to act on what the so-called “parrot” of Narendra Modi dictates.