Three dead, four missing as car plunges into Ganga
Three people died and four others went missing after an Innova SUV they were travelling in plunged into River Ganga on Tuesday.
An ‘Uttarakhandi’ identity remark by a BJP MLA in the state assembly on Tuesday caused pandemonium in the House as opposition legislators questioned whether Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts were not part of Uttarakhand.
The second day of the special session of the assembly turned chaotic when Dehradun BJP MLA Vinod Chamoli, angered by repeated interruptions from Congress members, referred to himself as an ‘Uttarakhandi’ and called the opposition MLAs members of a political party.
Advertisement
Chamoli was reportedly peeved by the constant disruptions as he sought to raise issues that, he said, needed to be addressed by the state government.
Advertisement
Speaking in the Assembly during a discussion on the roadmap and vision for the state’s future development, BJP MLA Vinod Chamoli said that there had been no land consolidation or demarcation of rural land holdings since 1965. “Who will do this, and when will it happen?” he asked.
Chamoli also questioned successive state governments for not framing norms to certify domicile residents of Uttarakhand. As he raised concerns over the absence of land consolidation and domicile criteria even after 25 years of the state’s formation, opposition members alleged that the present government had failed on these fronts.
Responding to them, Chamoli said, “This is not a matter of government or opposition. I am not trying to defend anyone; I’m talking about the roadmap.”
At this, opposition MLA Ravi Bahadur accused Chamoli of targeting them. Chamoli replied, “I am not talking about anyone in particular. I belong to all of Uttarakhand — this side as well as that side. You have politics, and I have Uttarakhand. Both are different. You are members of a party, while Vinod Chamoli is a citizen of Uttarakhand and speaks for Uttarakhand.”
The remarks irritated the opposition, prompting Congress MLAs from Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar to rise from their seats.
Congress legislators Ravi Bahadur, Virendra Jati and Anupama Rawat objected to Chamoli’s comments and questioned how he could make such a statement. Bahadur said, “How do you know we are not from Uttarakhand? Do you have a certificate? Will you now decide who belongs to Uttarakhand and who doesn’t?”
Bahadur was joined by Rawat, Jati, and Congress MLA from Udham Singh Nagar Tilak Raj Behad in protesting against Chamoli’s remarks.
Chamoli reiterated that he possessed all certificates proving his status as a bona fide resident of Uttarakhand and said that no one could question his domicile credentials. His response further angered opposition legislators, resulting in pandemonium in the House.
As the bedlam continued, Independent MLA Umesh Kumar also intervened, questioning Chamoli on why he was focusing on domicile certification but had remained silent on the issue of Gairsain as the permanent capital of the state.
Peeved by Kumar’s remark, the BJP MLA reportedly shouted back, saying, “Don’t try to become the ‘Chaudhary of Uttarakhand.’”
As the commotion continued, Speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan intervened to restore order in the House. She said that all those living in Uttarakhand are residents of the state.
Following her intervention, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Subodh Uniyal clarified that the domicile issue raised by the BJP MLA was meant for everyone — including residents of Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts — and not only for the hill residents.
Advertisement
