Reacting to State Cabinet Minister Indira Hridayesh’s statement that work for Vidhan Sabha Bhawan in Raipur, Dehradun would begin shortly, Almora MP Pradeep Tamta categorically said that first the Cabinet should make it clear that where the Government would make permanent capital of Uttarakhand thereafter they should talk about the Vidhan Sabha building.
Before this, it would be worthless announcement. Even Union Minister Harish Rawat has raised question mark over the Vidhan Sabha building. Political analysts said that by making such statements Minister Rawat and MP Tamta have deflated the Congress-led State Government’s claim that they would make Vidhan Sabha in Gairsain during the upcoming lok Sabha elections.
MP Tamta said that the State Government had decided to build Vidhan Sabha building in Gairsain and even they laid foundation stone of the building but yet to see any progress. Now they are talking about Vidhan Sabha building in Raipur. He asked that instead of making such announcement the State Government should convene a Cabinet meeting to decide about the permanent capital of Uttarakhand otherwise it would be an eyewash.
later Union Minister Harish Rawat, who is busy in public interaction as a part of election exercise in view of the upcoming general elections, said that before making building of Vidhan Sabha, the State Government should first declare what kind of Vidhan Sabha they are going to build. Will they make the Vidhan Sabha for a day or monthIJ
Sources said that now question is being asked that why the State Government is making Vidhan Sabha building in GairsainIJ Will it serve their purpose in upcoming general electionsIJ In recently concluded local body polls the Congress party could not en-cash the issue because their candidate lost the election.
Sources said that Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna tried his level best to use Gairsain, which is very sensitive issue in view of Uttarakhand perspective, but their party leader deflated the Government bids. By convening a Cabinet meeting and later laid foundation stone there CM Bahuguna had sent message among the mass that the Congress is better than the BJP, which claims that Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA Government made Uttarakhand, and will execute people dream in Gairsain.
Even the State BJP leaders were finding it difficult to counter when CM Bahuguna convened a Cabinet meeting there. Opposition leaders, which usually criticise Government, were seen praising the bid and demanded State Government should declare Gairsain as permanent capital of Uttarakhand.
Meanwhile, Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal and MP Pradeep Tamta demanded that Gairsain should be declared as permanent capital of Uttarakhand. As we know that the State was born on November 9, 2000 and Dehradun was declared as its temporary capital. Realising people’s sentiment, two consecutive Governments — Congress (2002-07) and BJP Government (2007-12) — put this issue on backburner by constituting Dixit Committee and presenting their recommendation in the Vidhan Sabha respectively.
They did not talk much on the issue as if they did not want to provoke people’s sentiment. Now the ruling party MP one each from Garhwal and Kumaon have been making sarcastic comment on the Government’s intention. It seems they want to provoke people’s sentiment ahead of general elections. If this happens then the Congress may face setback and the BJP will get positive result in the lok Sabha elections.