Gangotri of Uttarakhand's future development to flow from Gairsain: Rawat

Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today hit out at the BJP for suggesting that the ruling Congress was using the issue of Gairsain for electoral gains, asserting the Gangotri of the hill state's future development will flow from the remote hill town.“It is not an ordinary step (having an assembly session in Gairsain) as being projected in some quarters. The three-day session beginning Monday will determine the future course of the state's development,” Rawat told PTI in an interview. Gairsain, which represents the aspirations of Uttarakhand agitationists is an emotive issue with a large section of those who fought for statehood having been in favour of the remote hill town being declared the permanent capital of the hill state carved out of Uttar Pradesh in 2000. “Those who read politics into the move should better understand that the Gangotri of Uttarakhand's development will flow from Gairsain only. It is not just a gesture honouring the sentiment of those who fought for statehood to Uttarakhand but also a historic step spelling out our priorities in the state's development roadmap in which hills occupy a prominent place,” he said.Criticising the BJP for casting doubts on the Congress' seriousness regarding Gairsain, Rawat said it was a great irony that a party which did not dare touch the issue despite being long in power is suspecting the intent of a party which took genuine steps to honour the sentiments of Uttarakhand statehood heroes by laying the foundation stone of an assembly building at Gairsain and having a session of the House there. “Not even once did they dare mention Gairsain during their prolonged stint in power. They have no moral right to raise a hue and cry now when we are taking a historic step towards honouring the sentiment of statehood agitationinsts and bringing about development in the hills,” he said. Denying the charge that it was a political stunt in view of the forthcoming Panchayat and Assembly bypolls in the state, Rawat made a reference to his inaugural speech in the state assembly soon after being sworn in that he intended to a session of the state assembly at Gairsain. “That was in February when Panchayat elections were far away. Still Gairsain was very much in my mind,” he said, adding that he will be very happy if the three-day session could debate burning issues like migration from the hills besides promotion of technical and skill based education among the hill population.Stressing that the state government was very serious about having a Vidhan Bhawan at Gairsain, Rawat said a special board will oversee construction of infrastructure related to the Assembly building there such as power and water connectivity and hostels to accommodate MLAs and the Vidhan Sabha secretariat officials.“We are trying to take the process initiated during my predecessor's (Vijay Bahuguna) time to its logical conclusion and have taken one step ahead by constituting an Infrastructure Board for Gairsain.“The board has been kept out of the direct control of the state government as it comes under administrative control of the Vidhan Sabha. So, we can't even be accused of grabbing undue credit for anything. Our concern for development of the hills is genuine and the steps taken by us reflects that,” he said.The session of Uttarakhand Assembly at Gairsain, the first outside Dehradun after the creation of hill state in 2000 will be held plainly in the absence of a proper building there in a tent.When asked whether holding an Assembly session in Gairsain could be a step towards finally declaring the remote hill town as the permanent capital of Uttarakhand, the Chief Minister evaded a direct reply saying these things are determined by administrative convenience and not by politics. “Political exigencies don't determine these things. As to where Uttarakhand will have its permanent seat of power will depend on a variety of factors including administrative convenience and suitability.As of now suffice it to say that we want development in the hills to pick up and are ready to go to any extent to ensure that,” Rawat said.Replying to Leader of Opposition Ajay Bhatt's charge that the session will be an expensive affair and a waste of hard earned tax payers' money, state Congress spokesman and the chief minister's media in-charge Surendra Kumar said minimum expenditure will be permitted.Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal is allowing only a limited number of officials to attend the session and all ministers, MLAs and officials have been asked by him to reach the venue of the session by road and not by air, Kumar said.