Harish Rawat leaves from programme before Gadkari's arrival, rubs BJP the wrong way

DEHRADUN: Chief Minister Harish Rawat left a programme in Rudrapur before Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's arrival, rubbing BJP the wrong way, with the party today terming the gesture "a breach of etiquette" on Rawat's part.

The incident took place yesterday when Rawat left from Ramlila Maidan in Rudrapur even before the Union minister could arrive there for the foundation stone laying ceremony of a highway project.

Hitting out at the chief minister, state BJP Spokesman Vinay Goel said, "Apart from being a breach of common etiquette, it shows the chief minister's indifference to the development of the state."

"At a time when Gadkari is keen on making funds worth Rs 11000 crore available for Chardham yatra marg apart from funds for other infrastructure development works, Rawat has set a bad example by leaving the venue even before the Union Minister's arrival there," Goel said.

When asked why the CM left even before Gadkari's arrival, his media incharge Surendra Kumar said the programme had been "saffronised with BJP flags hoisted all over the venue."

"When the Chief Minister is to preside over the function there is a protocol to be followed. But it had been turned into a saffronised, politicised event with only BJP flags to be seen all over the venue. So the Chief Minister left," Kumar said.

Later, accompanied by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and a host of senior state BJP leaders, including its president Ajay Bhatt and former chief minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, Gadkari later laid the foundation stone of the 93-km Rampur-Rudrapur-Kathgodam four lane highway in Rudrapur.