Congress Blocks Harish Rawat's 'Dhanyawad Yatra' in Uttarakhand
Congress high command halts Harish Rawat's Dhanyawad Yatra in Uttarakhand, demanding adherence to party discipline ahead of Assembly elections.
In a significant move to maintain party discipline, the Congress high command has expressed strong objections to former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat's proposed Dhanyawad evam Jan Samvad Yatra. The veteran leader had planned to launch this outreach program in the Kumaon region, but the party leadership has advised him to strictly adhere to the official party line.
High Command Demands Discipline Ahead of Polls
According to party sources, the Congress leadership is closely monitoring political developments in Uttarakhand as the state prepares for upcoming Assembly elections. The high command has made it clear that it will not tolerate unilateral actions by individual leaders that deviate from the central party strategy. The proposed yatra was scheduled to begin from Jaspur on Sunday, October 5, and was intended to conclude in Haldwani by the same evening.
The tension within the party comes at a sensitive time, with the leadership focused on presenting a unified front to counter the BJP in the upcoming electoral battle.
Rawat Alleges Political Vendetta
The decision to block the yatra follows recent controversies involving Harish Rawat. On September 27, the former Chief Minister claimed that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had issued a summons to him due to the BJP's "electoral anxiety" regarding the state Assembly polls.
In a provocative post on X, Rawat suggested that the investigation was driven by a "spirit of revenge" rather than legal necessity. He stated, "It's not ED, but the arrogance of power and electoral anxieties that have summoned me here. We will address these concerns. Thanks, ED, thanks BJP—you've brought me to Dehradun; now let's see what comes next."
ED Investigation and Recent Resignations
The scrutiny comes amid an ongoing investigation by the ED into alleged large-scale irregularities in the 2016 UKSSSC VPDO examination. Recent searches conducted by the agency in Dehradun targeted multiple locations, including the premises of Rawat’s personal assistant, Chandan Singh Jeena. Reports indicate that the agency recovered Rs 32 lakh in unaccounted cash, along with gold and luxury watches.
This investigation follows Rawat's decision on September 11 to step down from two significant Congress positions. At the time, the veteran leader noted that he did not want his personal legal challenges to weaken the party's ongoing political struggle.