Dehradun : Politicking on even issues that are positive and which should actually be followed rather than a hue and cry raised, are the bane of Uttarakhand.
Whereas former chief minister of the BJP, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ may have done something very inconsequential as far as the interest of the people of this small hill state are concerned, but the gesture could have gone a long way if followed by others using red beacons.
Nishank, voluntarily did away with the red beacons on his official cars, a small but meaningful gesture, in as much that the beacons have become a status symbol in Uttarakhand.
Almost everyone who is anyone in the ruling party does hectic lobbying and politicking so that he can use the red beacon on his car. In fact they are the main stay of those who cannot become ministers, to flaunt their power and vex their muscles among the aam aadmi.
However, agriculture minister in the Vijay Bahguguna government, Harak Singh Rawat rather than lauding the move by the former chief minister, however small, and doing the same took a jibe at him.
Talking to newspersons, Rawat said that if Nishank was really seriously in adopting the aam aadmi attitude, he should leave the official residences that he occupies and move to his private house.
While there is no denying the sense in what Rawat said, but perhaps the agriculture minister should have led from the front and not only given up the use of the red beacon in his official cars, but left his own official residence and moved to his private residence in the city.
His actions would have carried more weight than his interaction with the media and would have served as an example for others to follow.
Incidentally, Rawat has been in the media for all the wrong reasons and there have been quite a few allegations against him from various quarters.
Perhaps the minister will recall that when not taken in the cabinet by chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, he openly denounced that we was gunning for any ministerial berth and that such positions he kept on the toe of his shoes. But then he is known to have bent backwards and more than readily took the oath when inducted into the cabinet.
A journalist with over 40 years of experience, Jagdish Bhatt was Editor, Hill Post (Uttarakhand).
Jagdish had worked with India’s leading English dailies, which include Times of India, Indian Express, Pioneer and several other reputed publications. A highly acclaimed journalist, he was a recipient of many awards
Jagdish Bhatt, aged 72, breathed his last on 28th August 2021 at his Dehradun residence.
You said it !
History remembers only those who set examples by leadership & personal conduct.The Hill State has suffered hugely in the last 13 years,but,I reckon,this is not the time to feel dejected or sit brooding, else, it may generate into a situation of strategic stalemate !.The dismal governance & unethical behaviourial pattern of the political class is a sad reflector of the irksome & heartbreaking governance ,ever since this tiny Hill State was carved out of UP.It is high time that the ‘Mananiyas’ amend their respective mindsets.They must understand ,that in a parliamentary democracy,they are NOT the rulers to pass their dictates/’farmans’ to their subjects.They are only participants towards progress of the state & the nation as a whole.All this has led to total political instability in the state,wherein,there have been 7 CMs sitting one after another ( even part time & repeat) in the chair in 13 years!Daily strikes,migration galore due to unemployment,uncertainty & poor quality of life,massive corruption,uncontrolled price rise,judiciary having taken over the executive,scams of all sorts & kinds,lack of holistic industrial infrastructure ,poor state of roads & signal communications, especially in the Hill Districts, causing a minimum of at least one road accident almost every day,resulting in loss of avoidable yet precious human lives ,bad education facilities,lack of industrial units in hill sector ,shocking state of women empowerment,no disaster management policy,lack of medical facilities in the hill region;these are some of the major issues that need to be addressed on a war footing by the elected representatives, than to engage in mud slinging on each other!And,as if,all this was not enough,the same political class stood silent as mere spectators when Delimitation Law was passed.Where was then the vision of this political class! Jharkhand has not accepted the delimitation.Besides,a number of NE States have not accepted it. Let us not forget,Uttarakhand is a special & sensitive state, & besides having it’s peculiar domestic problems,it has two difficult neighbours. Slowly,the Hill Districts would lose their political representation soon.Recent change in Panchayat elections is a case in point.Who is responsible for this ? Kunjwal was right when he said ,Quote,” WE WERE BETTER OFF IN UP”,Unquote.May I urge the political class to dedicate themselves to serve the hapless people of the state & address issues concerning a common man & not resort to cheap & petty gimmicks! They need to introspect!