Dhami Lays Foundation for Pithoragarh Development Push
A major development event was held at the Ramlila Ground in Pithoragarh on Sunday, where Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of multiple public projects. The chief minister also addressed the gathering.
Dhami told the audience that Pithoragarh was entering a new and bright phase in its development history. He said 67 important projects, with a combined cost of more than Rs 284 crore, were being launched on the day. He expressed hope that the initiatives would make life in the district easier, more accessible, more prosperous and more convenient for all residents.
He pointed to a sharp rise in tourist footfall in the Adi Kailash region, Gunji, Pithoragarh and Jageshwar Dham after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2023 visit to the area. According to Dhami, the change was clearly visible across the region.
Describing Pithoragarh as his own land, Dhami said he found it hard to express his feelings in words. He said the district had shaped him, teaching him to struggle from childhood and instilling values that continue to guide him. He called himself a servant of the people who works round the clock for the district.
The chief minister listed the major works underway. The medical college, costing over Rs 750 crore, is being built. The multipurpose hall at the sports college has been completed at a cost of more than Rs 34 crore, and a large stadium is set to come up. A Rs 21 crore critical care centre is under construction, along with a police building, a fire brigade building and a roadways workshop.
Dhami said his government was determined to make Uttarakhand a state where youth get employment locally and do not need to leave their homes. He said agriculture was opening new livelihood options in villages, and that the Lakhpati Didi scheme was proving successful for women whose products are in growing demand in India and abroad.
He also took a swipe at the Congress, saying that hollow slogans from stages do not bring results. He said medical colleges and air services are not established easily and that the development projects now being pursued could have been undertaken earlier.
Dhami underlined several policy decisions of his government, including the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code, steps to prevent riots, a law to curb religious conversion, and strict measures against land jihad and love jihad. He also said the madrasa board had been abolished, a step he claimed had caused discomfort to those who practise appeasement politics. He argued that parties that governed the country for 60 years were troubled by his good decisions and kept questioning them.
"I want to ask them whether protecting the law and protecting Devbhoomi is the sole responsibility of the government," he said.
He stated firmly that corruption, exam malpractice and law violations would not be tolerated, and that wrongdoers would face action.
Dhami added that repeated insults to national security personnel and national heroes exposed the anti-national mindset of the Congress. He accused the party of creating controversy whenever development was discussed and of misleading the public through repeated falsehoods.
He closed by saying his government would not bow to political pressure and would not step back even an inch on issues concerning the self-respect of Devbhoomi and the interests of the state.