Umesh Kumar
U’khand Assembly’s Special Silver Jubilee Session extended by one day
By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 4 Nov: The special session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly, convened to mark the Silver Jubilee of the state’s formation, today turned into a platform for the Opposition MLAs levelling strong allegations of corruption and commission-taking, while for others it remained a session for self-reflection as well as praise for the development seen in the past 25 years. While several Congress and Independent MLAs levelled strong allegations of corruption and commission for development projects, others across party lines have been expressing their views on the progress and failures of the past twenty-five years.
Independent MLA Umesh Kumar from Khanpur appeared particularly dissatisfied with the government’s performance and levelled serious allegations concerning corruption and mismanagement. Lakhpat Butola of Congress went to the extent of pointing fingers even at the first CM of Uttarakhand, the late Nityanand Swami. On the other hand, Congress MLA Mamta Rakesh, who has usually been witnessed strongly criticising the BJP Government, appeared to be very balanced and apt for the occasion in her speech today and refrained from making it a political statement. In response to the strong allegations levelled by the Opposition MLAs, government announced late this evening that it would respond to the allegations and for this it would extend the special session by one day. Tomorrow the government would respond to specific allegations.
Lakhpat Butola
The two-day special session, aimed at introspection over Uttarakhand’s 25-year journey, had begun with an address by President Droupadi Murmu yesterday. During the session, legislators from both the ruling and opposition parties have voiced their views on what the state has achieved and lost over the years. However, the proceedings took a contentious turn after several MLAs raised concerns about corruption in government projects and the alleged “commission” culture.
In his address, Umesh Kumar asserted that before charting a roadmap for future development, it was imperative to review the state’s record of the past 25 years and identify those responsible for numerous scams that had plagued Uttarakhand since its creation. Beginning from the first major scam in Uttarakhand as a separate state, the Patwari and Sub Inspectors’ recruitment scam, he went on to claim that several CMs were also involved. He also mentioned that some outsiders who had set up a company just some days ago were allocated 56 hydropower projects by one CM in the course of a single day. He also claimed that a lake was allegedly attempted to be built in Doiwala by the then CM, where there was no requirement for any lake and that some people close to him had purchased land close to that lake just before the government made public its intention to construct it there.
Mamta Rakesh
Kumar went on to claim that corruption had spread its roots deep into the system over the past two and a half decades, often thriving under political protection. He pointed out that several projects had been awarded to outsiders at inflated costs, indicating large-scale irregularities.
The MLA further criticised the setting up of liquor factories across Uttarakhand, lamenting that such industries had been established in Devbhoomi under the guise of employment generation. He said that, while it was claimed that these factories would provide jobs to locals and utilise local produce, the reality was quite the opposite, with trucks of liquor arriving from outside the state and only bottling operations being carried out locally. He alleged that this arrangement had resulted in revenue loss to the government running into crores of rupees.
Referring to the long-pending issue of the state’s permanent capital, Umesh Kumar demanded that the government take a final decision on whether it would be Dehradun or Gairsain. He urged all MLAs to unite in support of Gairsain, stating that Uttarakhand’s failure to establish its permanent capital even after 25 years of existence was one of its greatest shortcomings.
A major controversy erupted when Khatima MLA Bhuwan Kapri alleged that 15 per cent commission was being deducted from the MLA Fund. His statement created a political storm within the Assembly. He alleged that, in the past 25 years, corruption has matured in the state. A clear 15 per cent commission is being deducted from the MLA Fund, and everyone is aware of it, Kapri declared.
Former Leader of the Opposition and Congress MLA Pritam Singh supported the demand for an inquiry, stating that if a fellow legislator had raised such a grave charge, it warranted a proper investigation. However, he also added that legislators must examine their own conduct before levelling accusations.
Echoing Kapri’s remarks, Independent MLA Umesh Kumar criticised the government for allowing a corrupt commission system to flourish and called for its complete abolition. He said that corruption had entrenched itself from the Block level to the Secretariat. Explaining the chain of corruption, he claimed that officials such as the Block Secretary, VDO, and CDO withheld contractors’ payments until they received their 15 per cent commission. He added that 25 to 30 per cent of the MLA Fund was already diverted elsewhere, and after deductions by officials, contractors were left with only about 30 to 40 per cent of the sanctioned amount, raising serious concerns about the quality of work being executed.
Responding to these allegations, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal categorically denied any such practice, stating that no such matter had ever come to his notice in his long political career. Uniyal asserted that he had been an MLA continuously since 2002, and such a thing has never come up before him. He cautioned that one should make statements in the House only after careful consideration. However, he added that now that an allegation has been made, it will certainly be investigated.
The Minister further emphasised that the issue of corruption was not the responsibility of one political party alone. He reminded the House that Congress too had governed the state for several years, including heading the first government formed after Uttarakhand’s creation, and therefore must share equal accountability for the current state of affairs.
The special session, meant to celebrate 25 years of Uttarakhand, thus transformed into a heated exchange of allegations and counter-allegations over corruption, commissions, and governance, highlighting both the achievements and the unfulfilled aspirations of the hill state as it steps into its next quarter-century.
Former Minister Prem Chand Aggarwal reflected on the state’s journey and even mentioned the struggle and the statehood movement. Today’s session’s first speaker was Kishore Upadhyay and he claimed that it was unfortunate that veteran leader HN Bahuguna could not become the PM of the country. Umesh Sharma Kau praised the Dhami Government for rapid development. Lakhpat Butola of Congress, however, claimed that it was unfortunate that a person from Haryana, Nityanand Swami was made the CM of Uttarakhand by the Vajpayee Government. He also demanded that the delimitation of the constituencies in Uttarakhand need not be in done according with the population as this will ensure greater representation of the plains as compared to the hills in the Assembly, although Uttarakhand is claimed to be a hill state.
Anil Nautiyal also praised the government and its policies and the progress the state has made in many spheres. Vinod Chamoli said that he is utterly confused that the special session has been turned into an arena for levelling allegations and whether he should respond to the allegations levelled by the Opposition or should merely reflect on the state’s journey being a leading statehood agitationist, himself. Chamoli also observed that yesterday’s speech by the Leader of the Opposition, Yashpal Arya, made it appear as if it was the Congress which had created the state of Uttarakhand. Chamoli also criticised Arya for claiming that development had taken place only under the chief ministership of then CM, ND Tiwari. He also remembered the Rampur Tiraha firing case and asserted that there was a slogan during the statehood agitation days, that those sitting in Delhi and keeping quiet were the ones responsible and added that everyone knows who was ruling Delhi (the country) then.
Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bahuguna criticised the Congress members for claiming that industrialist Adani was being favoured by BJP Government and added that making land available to the industrialists for the sake of development was something that Congress governments indulged in first.
Congress MLA Mohammed Furkan claimed that the state government was harassing the Muslim community and the minorities and taking undue legal action against them. He said that the educational and religious structures of the community were being targeted by the BJP Government. Yamunotri MLA Sanjay Dobhal lamented lack of development and rehabilitation in his constituency. Some MLAs chose to raise pertinent issues related to their constituencies in their speeches rather than reflecting on the state’s journey and the roadmap ahead.
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