While averring that he enjoys majority support in the Assembly on Monday, Chief Minister Harish Rawat launched a blistering attack against his detractors in the BJP, saying that many of the saffron leaders had grabbed Government lands. "I am ready to face the floor test slated on March 28. The conspiracy hatched by the Centre and the Congress rebels would go waste," he said.
"I would like to mention here that many of the State BJP leaders, including their MlAs, have grabbed Government lands using their political muscles. I would release the list of the land grabbers soon," he said. "I have kept my cool despite the saffron provocation, calling me a land mafia. I do not get provoked. The list would be released following meticulous homework," he said.
Referring to the Smart City furore, the CM said the BJP had propped up the plan to have it on the tea plantation. Releasing a copy of a letter to the media, he said that it was written on December 19, 2014 and signed by six MlAs, including then State BJP president Teerath Singh Rawat, present leader of the Opposition Ajay Bhatt, Sahdev Singh Pundir, Harbans Kapur and Ganesh Joshi.
Giving clarification on Nainisar land, allocated to Zindal Group, the CM said that the land belonged to non-ZA land category. The land was allocated to promote investment in education sector, especially in the hills, he said, adding that the decision had been taken as a policy decision.
Speaking of the so-called mining scam, the CM said the BJP during its regime had allocated 400-500 mining leases. "We are now examining all of them. However, right now, I am not in a position to say whether they are illegal or legal," he said.
Observers say that both the warring groups flying on one another's throats bode ill for the State. "For instance, while Income Tax is conducting raids at random the CM, on the other hand, is shoving out those of the dissident camp who have been made chairmen, deputy chairmen or members of some State Government appointed committees. Political vendetta is what is running unhindered. This augurs ill as far as the long-term developmental interests of the State are concerned," said one of the observers.