Anger over CM’s Saharanpur remark

Dehradun, February 22

A statement made by Chief Minister TS Rawat regarding the inclusion of Saharanpur that borders Uttarakhand border in the hill state has been greeted by anger and derision among the statehood activists and even shocked the BJP.

Though the Uttarakhand BJP chief Ajay Bhatt has risen to the defence of the Chief Minister and said that media had deliberately misconstrued the statement that has not been able to satisfy the activists.

While participating in a function in Saharanpur two days ago, the Chief Minister is said to have said that there has been a desire among the people of Saharanpur to merge with Uttarakhand, since the time the state was created and they continue to harbour the feelings now.

After it generated political heat, Bhatt was forced to clarify, “Such a proposal has not being considered at the level of the party nor by the government. All the issues have been settled with the creation of the state of Uttarakhand”.

BJP leader Sushila Baluni, who was part of the statehood agitation, said that the agitation was launched to create a separate hill state. “We were interested in the creation of a separate hill state and did not wanted to be part of Uttar Pradesh,” she said.

However, PCC chief Pritam Singh said that the BJP government is trying to deflect attention by raising such issues. — TNS