Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
BJP MLAs from Uttarakhand have distanced themselves from the alleged controversial remarks made by Munna Singh Chauhan, BJP MLA from Vikas Nagar of Dehradun, regarding the Bengali community during an Assembly session held in Gairsain. The remarks, made while discussing reservation issues in the Garhwal Mandal, sparked outrage among the Bengali community in Uttarakhand.
Shiv Arora, MLA from Rudrapur and Arvind Pandey, MLA from Gadarpur condemned Chauhan’s comments, describing them as his “personal statement.” Arvind Pandey expressed regret over the incident and said, “If the sentiments of the Bengali community have been hurt by Munna Singh’s statement, then as a party MLA, I apologize to the community.” He added that top BJP leaders had been informed about the situation and hoped the party would take appropriate action. “No one has the right to hurt anyone’s sentiments,” he said.
Rudrapur MLA Shiv Arora pointed out that the BJP government in Uttarakhand had already passed a unanimous resolution twice in the State Assembly to grant Scheduled Caste status to the Bengali sub-caste. He said, “Efforts are being made to secure this status for the Bengali community. Their contribution to the movement for the formation of Uttarakhand is unforgettable.” Arora further said, “The BJP constitution follows the principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family). There is no place for casteism and regionalism in the party.” He reiterated BJP’s support for the Bengali community and their significant contributions to the state.
Meanwhile, Rajkumar Saha, the State President of the Bengali Mahasabha Uttarakhand, condemned Chauhan’s comments. He said, “The Bengali community is neither a tenant nor a tourist in Uttarakhand; we are the original residents of this state.” He demanded a public apology from Chauhan and warned, “If such rhetoric continues, we will not remain silent. A movement will be launched against the government.” He also said that the National Scheduled Caste Commission of the Government of India recently passed an order to grant full Scheduled Caste status to the Bengali community residing in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. The process is currently underway.
On a related note, the Bengali Welfare Committee, led by Rudrapur President Manas Bairagi and Vice President Arjun Vishwas, organized a protest in Rudrapur’s Transit Camp Main Market, where they burned Chauhan’s effigy and called for his suspension from the BJP. The protestors demanded a formal apology from both Chauhan and the Uttarakhand government, warning of further agitation if their demands are not met.
