Dehradun: Last year, in poll-bound Uttarakhand, the BJP twice changed chief ministers. Current CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, who took over the reins in July, was the third CM for the state that year, after Trivendra Singh Rawat and Tirath Singh Rawat. But Dhami is convinced the leadership changes will have no impact on the public perception of the BJP government in the state.
“It is not at all an issue for the public. You can see it like this: It is a car that has to reach its destination and in between drivers have changed, but the car is definitely reaching its destination,” Dhami told ThePrint in an exclusive interview.
In March last year, Trivendra Singh Rawat resigned as Uttarakhand CM after almost four years in office, following mounting pressure on the BJP leadership to remove him, owing to his “uninspiring leadership” and alleged lack of control on the state’s administration. Many in the party had feared that this could hurt the BJP’s prospects in the 2022 elections. Tirath Singh Rawat, who replaced him, had to go less than four months into his tenure. A Lok Sabha MP when he was made CM, Tirath Rawat needed to get elected to the state assembly before 10 September 2021 to retain his post. According to party sources, Rawat’s resignation came at the prodding of the BJP high-command, which took into account assessments that Rawat may lose the assembly bypoll.
Which propelled Dhami to the CM’s post. When asked whether he will continue to be the driver if the BJP wins the upcoming elections, the CM laughed. “I never requested to become a driver… Party has given me work and I am doing that. I have never asked for any position, or to become a face. I have never made any such claims,” he said.
The Uttarakhand CM added: “I am a simple worker of the party. Our honourable PM, president, and central leadership gave me an opportunity to work for the party and whatever energy, capability, and intelligence I have, in the past six months, I have given to the people of Uttarakhand. I have worked non-stop for my people and beyond that I have not asked for anything.”
As Uttarakhand gears up for the elections to its 70-seat assembly, scheduled for 14 February, Dhami expressed confidence about the BJP again forming the government in the state. “I have been to every nook and corner of Uttarakhand and I can say it quite confidently that the BJP is forming the government again. Our slogan this time is abki baar 60 paar (this time, cross 60) and we are quite confident of achieving it,” said Dhami.
Dhami also ruled out the possibility of a triangular contest in the state with the entry of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
“There is no triangular contest. In fact it is a one-sided election where the BJP is winning. People are simply waiting for 14 February and you will see that both these parties (the Congress and the AAP) have come only for elections and after election they will go back. Their agenda is also only for election,” he said.
While the CM accepted distress migration from the state’s hilly areas to be a major issue and also the fact that unemployment levels have gone up due to the Covid-19 pandemic, he refuted claims made by the Congress that the BJP in Uttarakhand was merely taking credit for the work that had started during Congress’ tenure in the state.
“The Congress government was in power in 2012 and people of Uttarakhand saw how malba and garbage was left at the site of Kedarnath ji. No work was being done for three years. The Congress can, in fact, even say that after 1947 whatever work they started all that work is now being completed under PM Modi,” he said. “They don’t have anything left to say. Had they worked during their tenure, then they would not have got an opportunity to say these things today.”
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Building infrastructure, rising unemployment
Asked to elaborate on the work that has been done by the party in Uttarakhand and what they are showcasing to the public, the chief minister said a lot of work has been done for Uttarakhand by the Modi government, including the construction of new roads, including all-weather roads, and construction of AIIMS.
“The Modi government has worked extensively for the state, whether it is construction of new roads or setting up of AIIMS (in Haldwani). Before that, no work was being done — whether it be the approving of the Tanakpur to Bagheshwar railway line or a tunnel in Tehri, making Dehradun airport an international standard one, or making a greenfield airport in Pant Nagar. Our government has also provided free Covid-19 vaccination,” he claimed.
While unemployment has emerged as a major issue in the state, with the Opposition questioning the government over its failure to create new job opportunities, Dhami blames the pandemic for this.
“Due to the pandemic, employment has been affected. But we are committed to creating employment and generating employment. We have worked for it. We have started the process to fill 24,000 vacancies in government jobs,” he said.
“Police recruitment, that could not take place for quite some time, we have started the process. Other departments have also been asked to initiate new recruitments wherever possible. We have created a road map for it,” Dhami added.
The CM said “what is most important to note is that the unemployment issue can’t be addressed by merely creating government jobs”.
“We are planning separately for this, we are promoting homestay schemes (for tourists), so that lakhs of people can get jobs themselves and they can create jobs for others too,” he added.
According to data released by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), while in the past five years, there has been an increase in the working age population in the state by 14 per cent, employment rate in Uttarakhand slipped down to 30.43 per cent in December 2021 from 40.10 per cent in December 2016.
Migration and other issues
Migration of people from the hilly regions has become a major election issue in the state, one that Dhami accepted needs to be addressed.
“We are already working on providing basic infrastructure and services in the hilly region. Those hospitals where there were no doctors have increased the (staff) strength by three times. We have also started the process of opening primary health centres (in the hilly areas),” claimed the CM.
He added: “Migration is a major issue and we have been working on this. Our government has made a migration commission. Migration will only stop when those who stay in hilly areas, in far-flung areas, find employment and jobs near their homes. If not employment, then they should get opportunities to run their own businesses.
“For this, we have asked the departments to make a 10-year plan and give suggestions. We will move forward in that direction and migration will definitely stop.”
The Uttarakhand CM dismissed Opposition allegations of resentment among people in the state’s Garhwal region following local leader Trivendra Singh Rawat’s removal from the post of CM, and the position being given to Dhami, who is from the Kumaon region.
“There is no rivalry. We are a small state of 13 districts, there is no such rivalry,” said the CM. “I am getting the support of everyone, youngsters, women, senior citizens. These are all make-believe issues. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari, we are one under PM Modi. We are a small state and the entire state is one,” he said.
The CM sounded equally confident of getting the support of the Sikh community in the state, despite a number of Sikh farmers from the state’s Udham Singh Nagar district having participated in the agitation against the now-repealed controversial farm laws brought in by the Modi government in 2020.
The Udham Singh Nagar district includes the Khatima constituency from where Dhami is contesting the coming elections. The Sikhs in this district are said to have a decisive say in nine of the 11 assembly constituencies here. Barring one, the BJP had won all in 2017.
“There is no problem in the region. I myself come from that district, I come from a farmers’ family, they are happy that I am a mukhya sewak. They are completely in favour of us,” said Dhami.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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