Harish Rawat Requests Congress To Relieve Him as the Punjab Party In-charge

"I will request the party leadership to allow me to dedicate myself completely to Uttarakhand," Harish Rawat said.

Harish Rawat. Image used for representational purposes. 

(Photo: IANS/ Altered by The Quint)

Senior Congress leader and former chief minister of Uttarakhand Harish Rawat on Wednesday, 20 October, declared that he has requested the party to relieve him from his duty as the party's Punjab affairs in-charge, in light of the upcoming elections in Uttarakhand.

Rawat said in a series of tweets in Hindi, “On the one hand, I have my duty towards my Janmabhoomi (Uttarakhand) and on the other, I have to serve my karmabhoomi (Punjab).”

He added, “As elections approach, a person’s full time will have to be given to both the places.”

"I have made up my mind that I will request the party leadership to allow me to dedicate myself completely to Uttarakhand. Therefore, the party should relieve me of my responsibilities in Punjab," the leader added.

While the party tries to retain power in Punjab after going through tumultuous months, which resulted in the appointment of Charanjit Singh Channi as the new chief minister, the party also aims to oust the BJP in Uttarakhand.

Declaring his attachment for Punjab, Rawat stated, "I will be able to do justice to my karmabhoomi (work place), only if I am able to do right by my janmabhoomi (birth place)."

On Wednesday, Rawat also commented on Captain Amarinder Singh’s decision to form a new party that might be open to seat arrangement with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), saying, "Who can stop him if he can't stay with his old commitment to secularism? He was considered a symbol of 'Sarvdharm Sam-bhaav' and was connected to Congress' traditions for long. If he wants to go, he should," Hindustan Times reported.

He further lashed out at the BJP and said, "Who can forgive BJP that has kept farmers at the borders for 10 months? Can Punjab forgive them for the manner in which farmers' agitation has been dealt with? His statement is really shocking. It seems he has killed the 'secular Amarinder' within him."

Meanwhile, referring to the incessant rains in Uttarakhand that have taken lives of over 40 people, Rawat said, "I could visit only a few places. I wanted to help ease people's pain and reach everyone but my duties (in Punjab) had a different set of expectations from me," he said.

Concluding his tweets with 'Jai Congress Party', the senior leader said he will obey the party command in view of his request.

(With inputs from the Hindustan Times)