While supporting the Centre’s move to pull out the currency notes of 500 and 1000 of circulation to rid the Indian economy of the stranglehold of black money and counterfeit currency, Chief Minister Harish Rawat chose to be cautious on Thursday as to the likely impact of the move on tourism and other important sectors of the State’s economy. “It is too early to say. We are studying things now. But one thing is clear that the tourism sector, supposed to be the mainstay of the State economy, would bear the brunt of the move as the number of tourist footfalls in November would dip considerably. This is a blow to us as November sees massive tourist footfalls almost equal to the figures of May-June. We are thus not unduly worried,” he said while addressing a press conference at his residence in the evening.
Speaking of the impact on the consumer sector, he said things were gloomy here too. “The Centre should have effected things gradually, preparing the common people to absorb the shocks. Now chaos is what is reigning supreme,” CM said.
Asked about the possibility of Gairsain being declared the State capital during the forthcoming session of the Assembly at the town in Chamoli district, CM again evaded a direct answer, saying that infrastructural works were being done there on a war footing.
Told that BJP, the principal Opposition party, is scoffing at his Government’s decision to hold the session at Gairsain while dubbing the move as flippant, vote-catching blitzkrieg, CM reacted sharply, saying that the saffron party had no moral right to criticise his Government on the issue, given its dismal track record. “They had better co-operate with us with the State striding ahead developmentally,” he said.
He further said that his Government had either unveiled or laid the foundation stones of a slew of projects worth Rs 1,560 crore to mark the State foundation day on Wednesday. “The BJP is carping at us too on them,” he said.
Averring that Congress was not interested in confrontation with BJP, he said his party would postpone its proposed ‘Hisab do Jawab do’ (give details and give answers) rally slated on November 12 in view of the BJP national president Amit Shah’s proposed rally in Dehradun a day after.
Taking a swipe at BJP, he said that the saffron camp should refrain from making wild graft allegations against him. “I am ready to order a probe involving a sitting high court judge into the property amassed by the chief ministers, former and present, since 2007,” he said.
“BJP is lying while alleging that I have issued mining lease. We have instead formulated a transparent mining policy. Similarly, we have given liquor contract to the government sector while taking it away from the clutches of the private sector. BJP is the party that had given the liquor contract to Ponty Chaddha, wresting it from the Government sector. Now, things are clear who are patronising the mafia,” Harish Rawat said.
Dwelling on his government’s resolve to rid the state of corruption in high places, CM said they had completed all constitutional procedures for the appointment of lokpal. “We have sent a letter to the Governor on the matter and we are now awaiting his reply,” he said.
Claiming that his government was on recruitment overdrive to fill the vacant posts, he said that the drive was going on through public service commission, subordinate service selection commission, higher education commission, medical education commission, high school education commission and technical education council. “We are ensuring a happier state with the youths being happy,” he said.
Affirming that his government is not wanting in sympathy for the agitating guest teachers, UPNl employees and Aaganwadi workers, CM said that the solutions to their grievances would evolve faster in case they stop pressuring them.