PrashantNews
The BJP high command is likely to remove Uttarakhand Finance Minister Prem Chand Agarwal who is facing trouble amid the raging hill-plain controversy after he allegedly used derogatory language in the Vidhan Sabha last month.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is in Delhi where he is meeting top party leaders over the issue, the BJP sources said on Friday.
Media reports also indicated that Dhami may reshuffle his cabinet shortly also. “There are two issues. One related to Prem Chand Agarwal and other related to the cabinet expansion or reshuffle,” a top BJP leader said.
The pressure has been mounting on the BJP high command to remove Agarwal after the controversy refused to die down. A series of protest rallies are being held on daily basis in parts of Uttarakhand over the issue despite Agarwal offering regret.
Lok Sabha MP and BJP’s national media head Anil Baluni on Friday also indirectly demanded the removal of Agarwal. “This (remarks by Agarwal) is painful and unfortunate. You know I am chief national spokesman of BJP, I have to follow the propriety. But I have raised this issue at the party forum,” Baluni told reporters in Kotdwar town of Pauri district. Earlier Trivendra Singh Rawat has also made a statement obliquely seeking removal of Agarwal. “This incident has happened for the first time…The centre must have taken or must be taking cognizance of the incident,” Rawat had said in a video interview when asked to comment on the controversy.
During the budget session in February, Agarwal lost his cool after being interrupted by Congress member Madan Singh Bisht. Agarwal allegedly used some offensive words which led to uproar inside and outside the House. The issue later snowballed into a major controversy.
Agarwal was in news in 2023 after he allegedly bashed Surendra Singh Negi, a BJP worker in Rikshikesh following which an FIR was filed against him.
Agarwal’s son Piyush was under scanner early this year for allegedly cutting khair trees without permission for the construction of a resort in Pauri district. Under the direction of Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami, a case was registered against Piyush Agarwal by the forest department for cutting two khair trees which are protected species. A total of 26 trees were cut at Khairkhal area near Neelkanth temple in Pauri district. Out of the 26 trees, two belong to khair protected species. State Forest Minister Subodh Unniyal has ordered an inquiry.
In 2018, Piyush Agarwal was forced to resign from the post of assistant engineer in Jal Sansthan after his father faced severe criticism from the opposition parties for allegedly helping his son to get the job through ex-army quota. At that time, Agarwal was the state assembly Speaker.
It will be much better if Mr Prem Agarwal himself tender his resignation. This will help him in getting some sympathy and establish himself as a person who cares for public sentiment. Otherwise termination or removal from present post by higher authorities will establish him as wrong doer and will jeopardize his public career.