BJP promoting intolerance in country: Uttarakhand CM

Chief minister Harish Rawat on Sunday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party alleging that those in the ruling party at the Centre were vitiating the peaceful atmosphere in the country by promoting intolerance.

Chief minister Harish Rawat on Sunday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party alleging that those in the ruling party at the Centre were vitiating the peaceful atmosphere in the country by promoting intolerance.

Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat. (PTI photo)

“Ours has been a tolerant society for ages…The atmosphere of intolerance is prevailing in society, thanks to those who are in the ruling party,” the chief minister said referring to the BJP that is ruling at the Centre. “There is a need to change this atmosphere of intolerance in the country, which has been created by the ruling party leaders,” he said.

The chief minister was speaking to newspersons on the sidelines of the Raising Day function.

Rawat also dismissed the BJP’s allegations that his government was out to destroy the capital city by occupying the sprawling tea estate here.

“We are trying to take possession of the tea estate to set up a smart city, which happens to be the Centre’s baby,” he said.

“We will immediately drop the idea of taking possession of the tea estate. We will do that provided the BJP issues an official statement in that connection instead of making a hue and cry on the issue,” he said.

The CM said the government was trying to take possession of the tea estate as there was no land left to set up a smart city.

“There is an area on the city’s outskirts but it is covered with forests….I don’t see any other vacant space where smart city can be set up,” he said.

The chief minister also dismissed the BJP’s accusations that he was putting a huge burden on the exchequer by frequently undertaking air journeys.

“If they want me to undertake paidal yatra (foot march) I am game for that too,” he said rather jocularly while referring to the (BJP) allegation.