Ministers in Trivendra Singh Rawat government protecting mining mafia: Congress

DEHRADUN: Congress today accused members of the newly sworn-in Trivendra Singh Rawat cabinet of giving political protection to the mining mafia.

"Political backing has emboldened the mining mafia to commit crimes like the murder of a forest department employee in Kosi river area near Ramnagar," party state unit chief Kishore Upadhyay alleged.

A forest guard was on Friday last mowed down by the mining mafia when he tired to stop them from lifting sand from the Kosi riverbed.

The PCC chief and senior party leaders today met the family members of the forest guard in Kelabanwari village near Bajpur and visited the crime scene.

After inspecting the spot at Ramnagar, the Congress leader wrote to Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, alleging that some of his cabinet colleagues were giving protection to the mining mafia which had emboldened them to carry out such crimes.

He requested the Chief Minister to embark on his party's mission to put an end to corruption and fear by acting against his own ministerial colleagues.

Terming as insufficient the compensation of Rs one lakh paid to the next of kin of the forest department employee, Upadhaya said it should be at least Rs 10 lakh.