Uttarakhand govt in hot water over Namdhari

Ponty Chadha murder case puts a damper in the move with group of Cong leaders demaning removal of BJP backed Sukhdev Singh Namdhari

The growing demand for Lal batti, the ministerial level posts which are considered as the symbol of power and status, is troubling the Uttarakhand government.

At a time when chief minister Vijay Bahuguna is all set to appease Congress leaders with red beacon posts, the Ponty Chadha murder case has put a damper in the move with a group of state Congress leaders demanding the removal of BJP-backed Sukhdev Singh Namdhari, a close associate of murdered liquor tycoon Ponty Chadha, from the post of chairman of the state minorities commission.

“Namdhari should be removed immediately and there should be inquiry into his involvement in the murder,” said state Congress Vice President Surya Kant Dhasmana.

However, on the issue of removal of Namdhari, chief minister Vijay Bahuguna only said he has ordered an inquiry against him.

Police reports here said Namdhari was present at Chattarpur farmhouse in New Delhi during the Saturday’s shootout that led to the murder of Chadha along with his brother Hardeep Singh. Namdhari was given the constitutional post on the recommendations of Chadha by the former BJP government in 2010.

The high-profile twin murder case has put the state government in a piquant situation where it is finding it tough to remove Namdhari, who is occupying a constitutional post.

Though the sources said the government was under pressure from a section of Congress leaders to remove Namdhari, state Congress chief and revenue minister Yashpal Arya only said “we will see what we can do (to remove Namdhari).” But Arya quickly added that Namdhari was given the post by former chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank in 2010.

Significantly, Namdhari is also facing several criminal cases in the hill state. “We have reports that Namdhari is facing several criminal cases. We have compiled a report and submit to the government,” said Inspector General (Law and Order) R S Meena.

The state police has also sent a police team to New Delhi to gather information regarding the involvement of Namdhari and his gunner Sachin Tyagi in the murder case, Meena said.

Congress sources said Bahuguna has now deferred a move for time being to give lal batti posts to state Congress leaders and MLAs.