Congress rules out dismissal of Vijay Bahuguna govt

AICC general secretary Ambika Soni also warns media against any speculative news reporting on death toll in recent devastation

The Congress high command today ruled out any change of guard or dismissal of the embattled Vijay Bahuguna government in the wake of the heightened opposition attacks and sought clarification from Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal for over-estimating the death toll in the disaster.

“The demand for the dismissal of the state government is uncalled for,” said Congress general secretary Ambika Soni, who is also incharge of the party’s affairs in the state.

Flanked by chief minister Vijay Bahuguna and union rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, Soni said she was pained to hear comments from the leader of the opposition Sushma Swaraj that the state government should be dismissed in the wake of the calamity.

“This is not the time for such things,” said Soni.

She also warned the media against any speculative news reporting on the death toll in the recent devastation where state assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal had stated that nearly 10,000 people could have died in calamity.

“I talked to the Speaker (Kunjwal) today and asked him to explain the basis of his claims. The Speaker only said he has heard about this (10,000 deaths) from the people only,” she said.

Significantly, Kunjwal is from the political camp of union water resources minister Harish Rawat, which is lobbying hard to remove Bahuguna from the post.

However, when some media persons asked Soni why was targeting the media, Sonia apologized and asked the media to play the role of watchdog.

When asked on the recent infighting in the ruling Congress, Sonia said she has talked to all MLAs especially on the issue especially related to the disaster and relief works.

On being asked to give a correct figure of the death toll, the chief minister said officially 568 people have died and 3,068 were missing. “We are verifying all details and it will take a long time to ascertain the exact death toll,” said the chief minister.