Ousted Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat in poll mode, visits people, temples

By Sanjat Singh

DEHRADUN: The ‘Save Democracy’ campaign that Congress has launched in Uttarakhand in protest against President’s rule in the state has provided a platform for ousted chief minister Harish Rawat to not only present his case before the public but also seek divine intervention.

Rawat is busy meeting people and visiting temples across the state known as ‘ Devbhoomi’ even as his party is fighting a legal battle in the Supreme Court. His plea is that he is seeking justice in the court of law as well as people, and he is also praying to God for help.

“I am helpless before the BJP government at the Centre. So I am here to pray to Bhagwan Shankar,” Rawat had told reporters after a visit to the Daksheshwar Mahadeo temple in Hardwar on Monday.

He then undertook a ‘padayatra’ from there to Har Ki Pauri, drawing a good crowd. The former chief minister appears to be in an election campaign mode already, and he clearly does not want to concede a pro-Hindu image to BJP.

After the central government imposed President’s rule in Uttarakhand on March 27, Rawat has organised more than 50 political shows in different districts, including interior hilly areas like Chamoli, Tehri and Uttarkashi.