Rawat, who represents Haridwar in Parliament, expressed grave concern over the unchecked operations of overloaded mining trucks, especially during the night, across Dehradun, Haridwar, Nainital, and Udham Singh Nagar districts. Calling the activity a threat to law, environment, and public safety, he questioned the administrative machinery’s role and asked whether officials themselves were hand-in-glove with the mining mafia.
His remarks triggered an immediate response from Brijesh Kumar Sant, Director of the Mining Department, who labelled the allegations “completely baseless, false and misleading.” Sant pointed to a record surge in mining revenues — more than double compared to the previous fiscal year — as evidence of improved regulation and reduced illegal activity.
But the controversy did not end there.
The Congress Party quickly seized the moment, claiming that the BJP MP’s statement had confirmed long-standing allegations of a mining mafia operating with impunity under BJP rule. State General Secretary Naveen Joshi alleged that rivers from Haridwar to Kumaon were being ravaged while the government remained willfully blind.
BJP’s Uttarakhand President Mahendra Bhatt attempted damage control by defending Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, noting that mining revenue had tripled — from ₹300 crore to over ₹1,000 crore — indicating enhanced transparency and tighter control. Bhatt claimed this spike in income reflected the administration’s success in eliminating corruption and bringing order to the sector.
However, Rawat remained unfazed. Taking objection to the mining secretary’s swift denial, he pointedly asked whether the official had conducted a two-hour investigation before dismissing his claims and even hinted at potential bureaucratic collusion with the mafia.
This exchange has reignited a long-simmering debate over illegal mining in Uttarakhand. For years, citizens, whistleblowers, and activists have raised alarm over environmental degradation and administrative apathy. Their concerns now seem validated not by the opposition, but by a senior BJP figure himself.
Voices from civil society have also echoed Rawat’s outcry:
Social activist Naveen Chandra Tiwari wrote, “When we speak against illegal mining, we’re branded anti-national. Is Trivendra Rawat lying too? The matter has reached Parliament, yet the state’s politicians remain blind and deaf.”
Roshan Raturi, another prominent voice, lamented, “Uttarakhand has been looted day and night for 25 years. From the mafia to corrupt officials — even some judges are now allegedly involved. Is conscience dead in our state?”
Former MLA Rajendra Bhandari took it a step further, stating, “If a former CM is forced to raise corruption issues in Parliament, Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah must seek answers from the Dhami government. Meanwhile, the BJP’s propaganda machines remain fixated on factionalism in Congress.”
Backing these claims are findings from the CAG’s 2023 report, which uncovered jaw-dropping irregularities between 2017 and 2021:
- Over 1.24 lakh metric tonnes of illegally mined material were transported using government ambulances and hearses.
- Over 2,500 taxis and 835 passenger vehicles were used to smuggle mining loads.
- A staggering 57,000 unregistered vehicles, including e-rickshaws and two-wheelers, were involved.
- CAG flagged number plate tampering and administrative complicity, resulting in crores of rupees in revenue loss.
Further pressure mounted when the Nainital High Court ordered strict action against illegal mining in the Kosi river near Bazpur and instructed the police to seize machinery and register FIRs, underlining the gravity of the situation.
Environmental watchdog NGT (National Green Tribunal) also raised red flags, warning that mining without scientific studies poses grave ecological risks.
Rawat’s intervention may have cracked open what many call Uttarakhand’s “open secret.” While BJP’s central leadership has yet to react publicly, political observers say the issue could snowball unless a transparent probe is ordered.
In the end, the storm unleashed by a single MP’s speech has not only shaken the foundations of the Dhami administration but also exposed the fault lines within the BJP’s own house — suggesting that the battle over Uttarakhand’s rivers is not just political, but also deeply moral.
The post From BJP to BJP: Rawat’s Attack on Dhami Govt Over Illegal Mining Sparks Political Frenzy appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
