'Extra-powerful' Centre murdering democracy and secularism in Uttarakhand, says CM Rawat

Dehradun: Describing the BJP government at the Centre as "extra-powerful", Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday alleged that it had thrown all its might to shatter the dreams of Uttarakhand but if governments continue to be changed like used hankies with "money and muscle power" it will lead to perpetual instability in the state.

"Both democracy and secularism are being murdered in Uttarakhand today. The Centre's extra-powerful government is out to shatter the dreams of a small state like ours," Rawat said.

"If chief ministers are changed like used hankies with the power of money and muscles, it will perpetuate instability," Rawat said.

He said Harish Rawat was not important as chief ministers keep coming and going but stability was crucial to the development of any state.

Rawat said the assembly has been convened to decide thefate of the state government and the matter is before constitutional authorities.

"It is not proper to comment on the political scenario as the matter is before the constitutional authorities. "But I leave the task of deciding whether what happened was right or wrong on the enlightened people of the state," he said.

Accusing the BJP of levelling unfounded allegations against the state government like being steeped in corruption and having a nexus with the mining and land mafia, Rawat said charges like these are being hurled at the state government just to vitiate the atmosphere.

Claiming that a transparent process has been adopted for the smartcity project in Dehradun by seeking people's views directly online as to what route they will like the government to take on the ambitious project he said there is no truth in BJP's allegations about the state government being hand-in-glove with the mining and land mafia.

Flinging back the charge at previous BJP governments, Rawat alleged as many as 400-500 mining leases were allocated by past BJP governments and he will soon issue a list on this expose them.

"It is not good to hear such allegations from people who are murdering democracy, lowering the dignity of the State Assembly and toppling democratic institutions," he said.