“Lions do not hunt dogs”,  Trivendra Singh Rawat on the reaction to his allegations against his own Uttarakhand govt.

“Lions do not hunt dogs”,  Trivendra Singh Rawat on the reaction to his allegations against his own Uttarakhand govt.

S.M.A.KAZMI

Dehradun , March 29

The allegations of large scale illegal mining in Uttarakhand in Parliament by former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat who is presently BJP Lok Sabha MP from Haridwar has again led to resurfacing of  old fault lines within the state ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and highlighted the intense rivalry within the saffron party. A  state government official has termed the charged baseless. Reacting on the reply by a senior bureaucrat on his charges, Trivendra Singh Rawat created a stir in the state when he said, “Lions donot hunt dogs.”

There was political turmoil in the state following direct allegations levelled by BJP MP Trivendra Singh Rawat in the Lok Sabha on Thursday about large scale illegal mining going on in Haridwar, Dehradun, Udham Singh Nagar and Nainital districts of the state. He charged that overloaded trucks carrying mining material plying during night hours are not only threat to environment but causing losses to the state exchequer. He further said that such overloaded trucks carrying mining material from the state’s river beds are threatening the security of common people and threat to the infrastructure like roads and bridges. He called for formation of special task force and strict against mining mafia which has been openly flouting the laws and indulging in rampant mining.

While, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami or the BJP organisation refrained from joining the issue with Trivendra Singh rawat, the state government fielded  State Mining secretary Brijesh Sant to refute the charges by claiming that the revenue from legal mining in the state has increased 2.25 times over past two years terming the charge as baseless.

“The claim that illegal mining, illegal transportation, and illegal storage are increasing in the state is completely baseless. Reports confirm that minerals such as stone crushers, screening plants, and extracted materials like coal, iron ore, granite, dolomite, etc, are being transported only with valid royalty permits. Any claim suggesting mineral extraction without royalty permits is entirely false and misleading,” a government press release said.

Meanwhile, Opposition Congress party has said that the allegations by Trivendra Singh Rawat substantiates the ground realities about the going on’s in the BJP state government. Addressing a press conference, Uttarakhaand Congress senior Vice-President (Organisation and Administration ) Suryakant Dhasmana demanded a white paper on mining in the state. He said that while, the serious charges are being levelled by a senior BJP leader who is not only a  Lok Sabha MP from Haridwar but a form,er Chief Minister of the state but the BJP has fielded a bureaucrat to deny his charges. “ Only a statement by the Chief Minister Dhami would have clarified the situation otherwise it indicates that BJP is trying to put these important issues under the carpet,” he added.

This was not the first time that Trivendra Singh Rawat has come out openly against the Pushkar Singh Dhami led state government. Last year , he has strongly condemned the law and order situation in the state following a daring dacoity in his  constituency of Haridwar. In 2023, after the Dhami government’s police lathi charged youths protesting against unemployment, Rawat questioned the government and called it wrong. Rawat had also raised questions against the government on its failure to take off the Smart City project in Dehradun.

There is no love lost between various factions of ruling BJP in Utttarakhand who are vying with each other to upstage each other. Although, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is a favourite of Modi-Shah combine and young darling of ‘Sangh Parivar’ for his Anti-Muslim rehotric after becoming Chief Minister in 2021 but his detractors are also reportedly close to the ‘Sangh Parivar’ Trivendra Singh Rawat who was removed as Chief Minister in 2021 was himself close to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and was part of his team when he was party President. His closeness with him was the main reason for getting the coveted post after the BJP landslide wins in 2017state assembly polls.

But presently, according to party sources, Trivendra Singh Rawat and Anil Baluni, Pauri Garhwal Lok Sabha MP have reportedly joined hands to undermine the present incumbent. Anil Baluni is incharge of BJP national media cell and considered very close to Modi and Shah.

The power tussle has been on in Uttarakhand BJP for past sometime with each group playing against each other. It was in August 2024 Gairasain state assembly session that allegations were levelled by an independent legislator namely Umesh. J.Kumar, considered close to Dhami that attempts are being made by Gupta brothers of South Africa fame to topple the Dhami government by spending Rs.500 crore. Dhami was quick to order a probe but nothing came out of such an inquiry. Interestingly political observers believe that the allegations were directed at Trivendra Singh Rawat and Congress leader Harish Rawat, both during their tenure had given security to Gupta brothers.

The rivalry has further intensified following removal of Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prem Chand Aggrawal over his remarks on ‘Pahari’ people on the floor of the house which inflamed passions in the hills leading to his sacking. There are five vacant positions in the Dhami government and there is talk to ministry rejig soon with powerful lobbies becoming active to get ministerial berths for their favourite legislators.

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