Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal quits following public outcry

Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal quits following public outcry

S.M.A.KAZMI

Dehradun , March 16

After a public outcry against Uttarakhand Fianace Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal who made disparaging remarks against ‘pahadis’ (hill people) on the floor of the house in the budget session, the ruling BJP took his resignation, today. He submitted his resignation  to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

Later addressing media persons, Prem Chand Aggarwal who is known for his brash behaviour, in an emotionally choked voice narrated his contribution for the state of Uttarakhand and stated that he has been quoted wrongly.

Prem Chand Aggarwal, a Speaker of the Uttarakhand assembly had created an awkward situation for the ruling BJP when during a heated debate with a Congress legislator during budget session in the last week of February 2025, he made a remark about ‘Pahadis’ ( hill people) which triggered a bitter controversy.

Common people, various social and political organisations came out on the streets throughout the state against his remarks. He was forced to apologise on the floor of the House but the controversy has refused to die down. Even senior BJP leaders including Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami warned Prem Aggarwal against such utterances.

Even, Narender Singh Negi, one of the most popular Garhwali folk singer came with his new politically satirical song targeting Uttarakhand BJP minister Prem Chand Aggarwal. Released on the eve of Holi festival, the song has already been viewed by more than 4.15 lakh people on internet.

Negi in his latest satirical song has called Uttarakhand Finance Minister and former state assembly Speaker Prem Chand Aggarwal, not to use his ‘Pichkari’ water pitcher since his ‘Pichkari’ is packed with foul language. Negi has addressed Prem Chand Aggarwal as ‘Prem Lala’ as he is fondly called in his home town of Doiwala in Dehradun district.

Earlier, Agggarwal was involved in publicly abusing and beating up a party worker at Rishikesh from where he is a BJP legislator on May 2, 2023.

A video had went viral in which Prem Chand Aggarwal and his security personal and staff were seen beating up a youth on a busy Rishikesh road. A statement issued by the minister after the incident said that a man started misbehaving with him while his car was stuck in a traffic jam and tore his kurta. “ When the ministers security guard intervened, his uniform was also torn and he also tried to snatch his pistol. The man also picked up a stone with an intention to injure the minister,somewhow the minister and his security personnel saved themselves,” the statement said.

Surinder Singh Negi, the victim had said that when he tried to pass the vehicle of the minister on his scooter from left side, the minister got angry and started abusing him. He stopped and reacted leaving the minister furious who got out of his car and slapped him twice, When he reacted his security guard and staff pounced upon him thrashing him for five minutes. Another man who tried to save him was also beaten up.

The incident led to public anger and disgust and fearing adverse public reaction, Uttarakhand government ordered registering of FIRs against the minister and his staff for rioting, voluntarily causing hurt and intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace.A case was also registered against Surinder Singh Negi also.

In the month of January 2025, a  case was registered by the Uttarakhand Forest department against son of Prem Chand Aggarwal for tree felling. The son of the powerful minister was booked for felling two trees of protected species while undertaking work for his tourist resort. A case was registered against Piyush Aggarwal, son of Prem Chand Aggarwal for felling two Khair trees which are protected species in Khairkhal area of Neelkanth road in Kotdwar area of Yamkeshwar assembly segment. A total of 26 trees were felled for paving a road by a JCB machine up to the resort being constructed by the son of the minister.

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Congress has said that the ruling BJP and the fallen minister has shown no remorse for this acts and tried to defend himself. Uttarakhand Congress Senior vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana said that the minister has not apologised but he is insisting that he has been misquoted. Dhasmana further said that neither the Chief Minister nor BJP party has said anything on the issue. He said that the resignation has been given following immense public pressure and sought an unconditional apology from the BJP for its’ conduct.