Uttarakhand finance minister Premchand Aggarwal resigns amid row over his remarks

Uttarakhand’s Parliamentary Affairs and Finance Minister Premchand Aggarwal resigned from the state cabinet on Sunday, submitting his resignation to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami.

"I always want my state to develop and move forward. Whatever contribution is needed from me, I will continue to do that. I have decided to resign from my post," PTI quoted Aggarwal as saying.

Aggarwal’s resignation follows a political controversy sparked by his remarks in the State Assembly in February. During a heated exchange with a Congress MLA, he questioned whether Uttarakhand was only for the people of the Hills, leading to widespread backlash from political parties and various organizations.


Following the outrage, Aggarwal apologised. "My statement was misrepresented. I had spoken about the whole of Uttarakhand. If my words hurt anyone, I express my heartfelt regret and sincerely apologise," he had said.

Kedarnath yatra management concerns

Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Kedarnath, Asha Nautiyal, raised concerns over the yatra management in Kedarnath, claiming that some incidents go unnoticed. She supported the demand to ban individuals allegedly tarnishing the temple's image.

"Some incidents take place that go unnoticed. If certain individuals are defaming Kedarnath Dham, their entry should be banned," she told ANI on Sunday.

Nautiyal further alleged that "non-Hindus" were responsible for such activities. "We need to look into this issue seriously. If concerns have been raised, there must be something to it," she added.

Boosting pilgrimage infrastructure

Amid these developments, the Union Cabinet recently approved two ropeway projects for Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib.

These projects aim to enhance Uttarakhand’s tourism infrastructure, offering a faster and more convenient travel experience for pilgrims visiting these revered sites.