Uttarakhand: Dist Congress presidents should be given responsibility in govt, says Upadhyay

Dehradun: District Congress presidents should be given responsibility in the government as a "reciprocal gesture" for what they did to foil the Centre's "conspiracy" to topple the democratically elected government in the state, Uttarakhand PCC president Kishore Upadhyay has said.

"Our workers are our backbone. They cannot be ignored. MLAs become MLAs because of the hard work of party workers at the grassroots. So the legislators must ensure that they don't become inaccessible to party workers at any point of time," said Upadhyay, who is said to be sulking after the Rajya Sabha ticket went to Pradeep Tamta.

Asked whether there was any instance of party workers being ignored in Uttarakhand recently, he evaded a direct reply saying?Congress can regain its past glory only by according proper respect to party workers.

On whether he was making a statement like this as he was upset with Chief Minister Harish Rawat after being denied a Rajya Sabha ticket, Upadhyay said he was not upset with anyone as he believed in doing the task assigned to him and he was happy heading the PCC.?

"I am concerned only about the party. I feel its glory at the time of Indira Gandhi can be revived only by according respect to party workers which they deserve," he said.

At a meeting of district Congress presidents of Garhwal region here yesterday, Upadhyay thanked party workers for carrying out a "save democracy campaign" in the state by ensuring the Rawat government's reinstatement.

"District presidents should be given responsibility in the government as a reciprocal gesture for what they did to foil the Centre's conspiracy to topple a democratically elected government in the state," he said.

He said he would soon speak to the Chief Minister about it. Being honoured by the state government will be an incentive for the party workers and it help them brace for 2017 Assembly polls, he said.

Upadhyay had recently asked the Chief Minister to send the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) MD S S Yadav on forced leave till his name is cleared after a sting video purportedly showed him taking money, arguing that it has brought disrepute to the state.