Uttarakhand: Congress govt would act against hate speech culprits, says Rawat

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat has declared that a Congress government in the state would act against people who gave hate speeches at a religious conclave in Haridwar last month.

NDTV aired an interview of Harish Rawat on Wednesday. Harish Rawat told NDTV that Haridwar was a gentle and spiritual place and wondered where people who gave hate speeches came from. Harish Rawat said the sadhus and saints of Haridwar were upset by the hate speeches. “I condemn the Uttarakhand government [currently run by the BJP] for not acting against such people [who gave hate speeches].”

Harish Rawat said if the Congress was voted to power, it would immediately act against those responsible for giving hate speeches. He claimed a Congress government would even initiate proceedings against law enforcement officials who had not acted against the Haridwar event organisers.

Harish Rawat also responded to questions about his uneasy relationship with Harak Singh Rawat, a former Congress MLA who rebelled against him in 2016 and joined the BJP. Harak Singh Rawat was expelled from the BJP earlier this week. Though Harak has announced his intention to return to the Congress, Harish Rawat has been, reportedly, opposed to it.

Harish Rawat told NDTV Harak had apologised for his mistake. On Tuesday, Harak Singh Rawat had referred to Harish Rawat as being his elder brother and declared, “I can apologise to him a hundred times or even one lakh times for the development of Uttarakhand, the youths of the state and its interests. I have no ego.”

Harish Rawat dismissed claims of infighting in the Uttarakhand Congress unit ahead of the assembly polls. He told NDTV, “We are one and under the leadership of Sonia ji and Rahul ji and I am sure we will ensure a victory for Uttarakhand.”