The Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee president Kishore Upadhyay has reiterated his request to the State Government for providing land to Congress and other political parties for setting up their offices at Gairsain. He said that the PCC executive would be holding its meet at Gairsain around the Assembly session slated to be held there from November 2.
Addressing the media here at the Congress Bhawan on Thursday, the PCC chief said he had requested more than a year ago that land for setting up an office of the Congress be provided at Bharadisain, Gairsain. He said, “The Congress and other parties should be provided land to open offices at Gairsain which would also be good for the public.”
Targeting the BJP he accused the main opposition party of trying to create an atmosphere of instability in the State. Upadhyay said, “The BJP is in power at the Centre but the BJP MPs and party organisation in the State have not been able to get any of the State-specific issues addressed by the Centre so far. We have also written to the Prime Minister seeking action on issues like the need for financial assistance from the Centre for setting up a permanent State capital, according special status to Uttarakhand, resolving our land disputes with neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and funds for the Ardh Kumbh among other issues. However, we have not received any proactive response so far.”
Referring to the BJP’s planned gherao of the Chief Minister’s residence in Dehradun on October 5, Upadhyay asked what real issue the BJP had for staging the protest. “At a time when we are expecting that more than 10 lakh people will undertake the Char Dham Yatra this year, the BJP should not focus on presenting a negative picture of the State. As in any democracy, we welcome protest but that should not damage the State’s interests. The Mahanagar Congress, Congress Seva Dal and Mahila Congress too will be staging a demonstration against the policies of the Central Government on October 5 as planned earlier.” The PCC chief also informed that the party had sent its workers to all the 70 assembly constituencies and had asked all the party’s position holders to assist as well in disseminating information about the various public welfare works being undertaken by the State Government.