Come clean on Gairsain issue: Opposition to govt

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, March 20

The budget session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly on Tuesday began on a stormy start note with the opposition Congress raising the demand for making Gairsain the capital of Uttarakhand forcing the Uttarakhand Governor Dr KK Paul to complete his address to the House amidst sloganeering. 

As soon as the Governor began delivering his address the opposition benches rose to their feet urging the government to come clean on the issue of Gairsain. “We want answers from you to come clear on the issue of Gairsain,” said Indira Hridayesh, Leader of the Opposition.

Soon the Congress MLAs reached the well of the house and continued with their sloganeering. In the midst of the sloganeering Uttarakhand Governor delivered his address to the house chalking the future road map for the state as conceptualised by the BJP government and also listed the achievements of the BJP-led TS Rawat government.

In his address, the Governor spoke on 35 points focusing on Gairsain and how government plans to start the stalled works over there. Around 67.50 acre land would be acquired for the construction of a mini secretariat. He then focused on the government’s decision to give a push to promote and encourage traditional farming and step up irrigation facilities for farmers. 

“Farmers and their concerns are top most priority for the government and we intend to double the income of the farmers by introducing traditional farming and improving irrigation facilities,” said Dr KK Paul.

The Governor also focused on disaster management and a transparent excise policy in which the permanent residents were being allocated the liquor vend.

Throughout his address, the Congress MLAs continued with their sloganeering and later sat in the well of the house. “We had sought answers from the government as the local people are agitating on issue. They did not allow us to speak,” said Pritam Singh Congress MLA. As the sloganeering continued, Speaker Prem Chand Agarwal adjourned the house as soon as the Governor completed his address.

Later, the Governor also released a book titled Mansa Vacha Karmana Uttarakhand Uttkarsh penned by Chief Minister TS Rawat. The book contains information about several schemes started by the BJP government and the Chief Minister’s own experiences.