Subodh Uniyal highlights 25 Years of Achievements, calls for collective efforts
By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 5 Nov: Some very contentious issues were also raised during the three-day debate on Uttarakhand’s 25-year journey of statehood and its future roadmap in the Assembly. Some members spoke on party lines while others chose to do some plain-speaking. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal responded to the debate and listed the achievements of the state during the past 25 years, choosing not to politicise his response.
The long-standing issue of the state’s permanent capital was one contentious topic and the question of whether Gairsain should be accorded this status evoked divergent opinions among legislators. After Minister Subodh Uniyal’s response, Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan also read out her speech, expressing gratitude to all her predecessors as speakers and deputy speakers and expressed confidence that ongoing and forthcoming development projects would continue to ensure a rapid progress of the state. She then declared the special session to have concluded, and the House was adjourned sine die.
Earlier, Congress member Tilak Raj Behad did some plain-speaking by asserting that the issue of Gairsain was being needlessly politicised. He said that Dehradun as the state capital was an issue that is almost settled but added that Gairsain can continue to serve as summer capital. Behad stated that Gairsain has already been declared the summer capital and hence cannot be made the permanent capital. His remarks triggered controversy within political circles, particularly as senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Harish Rawat had earlier publicly stated that the Congress, if voted to power in 2027, would make Gairsain the permanent capital. The contradiction between the two leaders reignited the debate over the politically sensitive issue.
Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya downplayed Behad’s statement, saying that the opinion of an individual member carries no significance on a matter decided by the party’s collective stand. He maintained that the Congress had played an important role in developing the basic infrastructure at Gairsain. In response, senior BJP legislator Vinod Chamoli criticised Behad, suggesting that he either did not consider Harish Rawat as his leader, or that the Congress party was prone to internal contradictions. Chamoli accused the Congress of politicising the Gairsain issue despite having governed the state for a decade without taking a final decision on the capital question. He advised the Congress to first settle its internal disagreements before commenting further.
Mohammed Shehzad of BSP was another member to do some plain speaking. He said that while development of the hills should remain a high priority, there should not be discrimination against people who belong to the plains like Haridwar. He further added that people of Haridwar have been generous in electing people from hills like Harish Rawat, Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, Trivendra Singh Rawat and Anupama Rawat as their representatives.
Some members also pointed out that people from the hills after getting elected soon settle down in the plains like Dehradun or Haldwani, but they still speak about the hills.
The special Assembly Session also witnessed sharp exchanges between members of the ruling and opposition benches, though there was no uproar. A remark made by Congress MLA Lakhpat Butola drew criticism even from within the opposition ranks, being termed unfortunate by Behad. It may be recalled that, yesterday, Butola had openly criticised the first CM of the state, the late Nityanand Swami and claimed that he did not deserve to be the CM as he was born in Haryana. Behad today urged the Speaker to expunge these remarks. Efforts by the opposition to corner the government on various issues led to several disruptions, prompting the Speaker to urge members to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House.
Rudraprayag MLA Bharat Chaudhary noted that the Silver Jubilee discussions on the state’s achievements and roadmap for the future would help accelerate Uttarakhand’s development. MLA Trilok Singh Chima expressed pride in the state’s progress, terming the Silver Jubilee a day of celebration. He highlighted that Uttarakhand’s 25-year journey had set an example for the country, adding that the health budget had increased by 16 per cent over the past five years. He praised the BJP government for its good governance and development-oriented approach.
Legislator Shakti Lal Shah emphasised the collective effort that led to the creation of Uttarakhand, recalling how people had mobilised support through drums and traditional music during the movement. He urged the government to recognise and provide pensions to those contributors. Recalling his 2017 election campaign, during which he visited hundreds of villages on foot, he lauded the government for constructing nearly 90 per cent of the state’s roads. Shah called for a comprehensive roadmap focused on the needs of the hill regions and advocated better facilities and respect for officers serving there. He underlined the importance of health and education in the state’s development and said that both the Chief Minister and the state itself were youthful, symbolising energy and determination.
MLA Munna Singh Chauhan raised concerns over the Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand Yojana (Gold Card scheme), observing that many hospitals had stopped accepting the card due to delays in payments. He urged the government to address the issue promptly to ensure continued access to healthcare for beneficiaries. In response, Parliamentary Affair Minister Subodh Uniyal assured the House that the problem would soon be resolved.
Congress MLA Manoj Tiwari voiced disappointment over the state of education and healthcare, stating that core concerns remained unresolved. He alleged that plans were afoot to close as many as 1,488 schools, including several in his constituency, which painted a grim picture of the education sector. He drew attention to the lack of principals in hill schools and urged the government to develop Almora Medical College as a model institution.
Almost every member of the House spoke during the three-day special session raising issues pertaining to their constituencies as well as praising the achievements of the current Dhami Government or criticising the government for its ‘failures’.
In response, Subodh Uniyal listed not only the achievements of the current government but of all the governments in the past 25 years. He also lauded the fiscal management of the present government and the rapid progress in respect of employment generation, SGDP, and forest related developments. He also called for a collective effort to take the state ahead in the next 25 years.
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