Uttarakhand minister Premchand Aggarwal resigns amid ‘Pahadi’ remark row
text_fields
Dehradun: Uttarakhand minister Premchand Aggarwal resigned from the Cabinet on Sunday, weeks after his controversial remark in the assembly regarding people from the state's hill regions triggered widespread protests.
Aggarwal, who held key portfolios including finance and parliamentary affairs, submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami at his official residence, according to an official statement.
The controversy stemmed from an incident during the budget session in February when Aggarwal, reacting angrily to a remark by Congress MLA Madan Bisht, stated that he had not fought for Uttarakhand’s statehood to witness a divide between ‘pahadi’ (hill people) and ‘desi’ (plains people). During the exchange, he also used an objectionable word, further fueling outrage, particularly among residents of the hill regions.
Despite expressing regret over his statement, Aggarwal faced mounting pressure as protests escalated. The BJP’s state leadership intervened, summoning him and advising caution in his public statements. However, the controversy persisted, ultimately leading to his resignation.
With PTI inputs
