In a no-holds-barred interview with The Pioneer’s Sunil Kumar, Chief Minister Harish Rawat bared his injured self vis-a-vis the raging liquor sting allegedly conducted by a journalist Ashok Pandey. He seems to have made the journalist’s fairy-tale rise from almost nothingness in terms of wealth he now possesses as the bulwark to shield himself and others embroiled in the sting.
Q: Would you please comment on the sting CD that purportedly shows your personal secretary Mohammad Shahi seeking money to facilitate a private liquor baron in Uttarakhand’s liquor tradeIJ
CM: If you study the excise policy which is now being implemented in the State things would be crystal clear. Earlier, the trade was under the command of Ponty Chadha and Namdhari Group. But now, we have taken it away from the private players and given it to the public sector. The charge does not stand reason as there is no room for the private players to maneuver things with the control resting solely with the public sector. You might recall that I had categorically said in the Assembly after I became the Chief Minister that I would promote liquor manufactured by using locally produced ingredients like Malta and the like. I brought phenomenal changes in the liquor policy of my own volition. When some officers made adverse comment on it I broached the matter before the Cabinet. I proceeded after the Cabinet nodded. The charges BJP is trading that the state government is changing policy to facilitate the private players are just gibberish. Even
Q: If we admit that the State Government’s intention is clear — to give no leeway to the liquor barons — how can you wish away the video that clearly shows the PS to CM seeking bribeIJ Are you going to probe things on your ownIJ
CM: So far it has not been proven who has made the CD. It is murky too who are involved in it. Has any case been lodgedIJ
Neither the self-proclaimed journalist Pandey nor BJP claims that they have made the CD. We must ask about the place where the CD was made. Further, honourable Supreme Court says that journalist can do sting operation but he can’t hold it for more than 24 hours. As far as my knowledge goes the Apex Court pronounced the judgment regarding a case concerning RK Anand. It clearly stated that in case such CDs are kept for more than 24 hours it must have been made to blackmail those involved. As far as this Pandey is concerned we do not know which of the media houses he is from. His intention behind the sting is not clear yet. The CD might be doctored. It might be false or meant to blackmail some officers.
Q: As the CM, can’t you conduct an enquiry into the CDIJ
CM: Yes, I can. We have already asked police to send the CD for forensic test. The test can’t be conducted unless we have the original CD with us. If anyone comes forward and authenticates it we have no inhibition to send it for forensic test. If I send the CD to have it tested the Opposition will cry foul of me, saying that I have sent a fake CD to save the skin of those involved. The drift of things is that it is a malicious political propaganda orchestrated to wreck the image of the State Government. There is another question. Can a CD help in eliminating corruption from public lifeIJ
Q: Would you agree that Mussoorie-Dehradun Development Authority (MDDA) has hammered down the commercial complex owned by the journalist Pandey at your behestIJ It seems to be a purely vindictive action, coinciding with the sting-triggered ruckus.
CM: No. Such insinuation is false. MDDA did it on its own. If Pandey files a case against MDDA, saying that they have wrongly demolished his building despite his having abided by the rules I would ask for an inquiry. Now, BJP will have to explain its stance vis-à-vis the demolition of the unauthorised construction. As far as timing is concerned I must admit that the move is ill-timed. But there is not even an iota of truth that I was behind it.
Q: The enquiry you ordered into the property that Pandey owns seems to be motivated.
CM: This is justified. Pandey seems to be rags to riches story. This thus requires thorough investigation. If he has turned into a role model for the media I would congratulate them for getting such a person that embodies the ethics the media champions. But the question that begs answer is how he has amassed such an enormous volume of property. A probe thus is an imperative to unravel the mystery.
Q: Had Pandey come to you with the CD what would have been your reactionIJ
CM: In that case, I would have suspended Md Shahid immediately.
Q: Don’t you think that Shahid, who has been with you since 2009, has shown to be an immature personIJ
CM: Yes. No doubt about it if we grant that the CD is genuine. However, doubt lingers as the CD was manufactured around 12 months ago. And it was the time when he was not the secretary in charge of excise.
Q: Did Mohammad Shahid regret after the CD was airedIJ
CM: No. Rather he said to then chief secretary that the things ascribed to him in the media are totally false. He rejected the allegation outright.
Q: Don’t you think that your position as chief minister of Uttarakhand has weakened before the party high command following this episodeIJ
CM: No. The high command continues to repose confidence in me. They know things behind the murky CD. Even if we grant that the CD is genuine how can I be implicatedIJ Even if my son commits such a mistake would I be liable being the father of my sonIJ
Q: Why you as the head of the state government is not releasing Md Shahid even after his deputation is terminated by Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT)IJ Do you smell politics behind the DoPT orderIJ
CM: Yes. Now we are reading DoPT order between the lines to understand the crux lurking in it. This is an unprecedented order. Nothing of this kind happened before. I am afraid BJP is pulling the strings from behind the scene to favour the big wine manufacturers like Ponty Chadha and Namdhari. I might have incurred their wrath and that of their mentor BJP as I reversed things here from private player to public sector.
Q: Do you have any plan to counter BJP on this matterIJ We know that Harish Rawat’s roots are still deep enough…
CM: Please don’t forget I am a politician. Now, I will take it to the public court. They would decide who is wrong and who is right. Was BJP which had given liquor trade to private players right or Congress which has reversed things is rightIJ