Has ‘Dhakkad Dhami’ bitten off more than he could chew on allegations of ‘toppling’ of his government by Gupta brother of South Africa fame?

Has ‘Dhakkad Dhami’ bitten off more than he could chew on allegations of ‘toppling’ of his government by Gupta brother of South Africa fame?

S.M.A.KAZMI

Dehradun, Aug 31

Has the youthful Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami who is titled ‘Dhakkad Dhami’ (Dashing Dhami) by the pliant media, bitten off more than he could chew on the issue of allegations levelled by a controversial independent legislator regarding an alleged conspiracy by the Gupta brothers of South Africa fame to topple the state BJP government with money worth Rs.500 crores.

Umesh.J. Kumar, an independent legislator from Khanpur in Haridwar district, who himself has a controversial past, on the floor of the house on August 22,2024 charged that an attempt was made to topple the state BJP government by Gupta brothers  who allegedly were willing to spent Rs.500 crore for the ‘Operation Topple’. He asked the state government and the Chief Minister to probe the matter. Later, when asked, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the matter would be probed.  One of the Gupta brother along with his brother-in law are in Dehradun jail in connection with abetment to murder of their business partner.

The allegations created a storm in the internal politics of state ruling BJP which had been relatively silent since the state assembly elections of 2022 in which Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami emerged victorious and politically strong. However, the internal dynamics of Uttarakhand BJP has also undergone a change following election of former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat from Haridwar and Anil Baluni, national media incharge of BJP from Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha seats.

Political observers believe that the allegations against Gupta Brothers were actually aimed at different targets within the BJP. The strong reaction by two BJP former Chief Ministers point towards this reality.

Two former Chief Ministers namely Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Trivendra Singh Rawat have come out strongly against the allegations and sought an inquiry and action into the matter. The main opposition Congress party which was mild in its reaction on the issue has also now jumped in with former Chief Minister Harish Rawat joining the chorus of seeking an inquiry into the matter.

The allegations and the reactions it invited would have serious repercussions within the ruling BJP since Umesh Kumar, a journalist turned politician is considered close to Chief Minister Dhami and former Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari camp in BJP.

Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Union Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank reacting strongly at press conference few days ago dared Umesh.J. Kumar to come out with concrete evidence to back his allegations. He also asked the state BJP government to probe the issue in a time bound manner. Nishank said that the constitutional institutions like state assembly should not be used as a platform for unfounded and wild allegations and the dignity of such bodies should be maintained. He also requested the Speaker to give her ruling on the propriety of raising such allegations on the floor of the house.

Another former Chief Minister and Haridwar Lok Sabha MP expressing concern at the allegations said that these charges point a question mark over 70 legislators of the state. ” The speaker should have asked the legislator making these charges to give evidence and ordered an inquiry. Why the legislators are silent,” he asked at a press conference at Mussoorie on Thursday.

The Speaker Ritu Khanduri has been caught in the crossfire of the various warring groups of BJP on the issue. However, it was fact that none either from treasurery benches or opposition in the house during the Gairsain assembly session or later, made a representation to the Speaker to probe the matter.

Moreover, the fact that both Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank and Trivendra Singh Rawat  while being  Chief Ministers of Uttarakhand during their tenures had running feud with Umesh. J.Kumar, then  a journalist. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had him externed from the state while Trivendra Singh rawat jailed him. Similarly, Umesh.J.Kumar recorded the famous sting of former Chief Minister Harish Rawat during the political upheaval of 2016 following switch over of ten Congress legislators, with a bid to topple his government.

Senior BJP leader Ravinder Jugran raising doubts about of the credentials of legislator Umesh.J. Kumar said that the allegations about toppling the state BJP government are irresponsible and laughable since the person levelling the charges is himself known as a ‘stingmaster’. He said that wild charges of toppling the majority BJP state government point towards involvement of ruling BJP legislators.  Raghunath Singh Negi, a former vice-chairman of Garhwal Mandal Vikas Nigam(GMVN) and chief of Jan Sanghrash Morcha sought a thorough probe and asked that how tainted Gupta brothers who are in jail from past two months could plan the alleged conspiracy.

Interestingly, the allegations have more to do with internal Uttarakhand BJP politics than anything else. There had been talk of realignment of forces in the state ruling party after the election of former Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Anil Baluni, national media incharge of BJP as Lok Sabha members from Haridwar and Pauri Garhwal respectively. There had been rumors of lobbying against the Chief Ministers as state BJP leaders including ministers made a beeline to meet central ministers including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The allegations by the independent legislator if found true also raises issues about the conduct of the BJP legislators who were willing to participate in the toppling conspiracy by Gupta brothers. More interestingly, Gupta brothers are supposed to be close to BJP leaders and got facilities including security during Trivendra Singh Rawat regime. Earlier, even Harish Rawat Congress government had sanctioned them security in 2016.

On the other hand, Umesh. J. Kumar on his social media had said that he has all the proofs of charged levelled by him and would divulge them before probe agencies. . Interestingly, till date no serious effort has been made by the state government to order a probe.

It seems that issue which must have been raised with the knowledge of the Chief Minister Dhami has caused much embarrassment to the ruling BJP and widened fissures within.