Ahead of upcoming Assembly elections in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday launched a scathing attack on Congress saying that its leaders don’t respect the martyrs.

Addressing a rally in Haldwani, the Uttarakhand chief minister alleged that when the country was mourning the loss of General Bipin Rawat, who died in the IAF crash along with 12 others, the Opposition was celebrating and launching its poll campaign in Goa.

“On one hand, we were mourning the loss of General Bipin Rawat and 12 others, while on the other hand, the Opposition was celebrating. They were dancing in Goa during an election campaign. They should be ashamed of themselves,” ANI quoted Dhami as saying.

In a veiled attack at the Gandhi family, the Uttarakhand CM said a family which ruled the country for 55 years have no feelings for martyrs. 

“When CDS Rawat was being cremated, a party was celebrating. They should be ashamed. They are present only physically, their souls somewhere else. A family which ruled for 55 years have no feelings for martyrs…dancing, launching the poll campaign in Goa,” he said.

The Legislative Assembly elections will be held in Uttarakhand in February 2022 to elect 70 members. However, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is yet to announce the schedule of the state polls.

Uttarakhand CM inaugurates various development projects

Chief Minister Dhami today also inaugurated several development projects and laid the foundation stone for various others. 

“Today I inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development projects – roads, schools, hospitals… with worth about Rs 90 crores, in Nainidanda. We aim to increase tourism opportunities…and make the state country’s best state by 2025,” he said.

Addressing another rally in Rudrapur, CM Dhami said: “We can’t forget the contribution of Bengali community in this region, which is why we decided to remove East Pakistan from certificates of the people who had migrated (to India). East Pakistan is an offensive term.”