GAIRSAIN: The ongoing budget session of the Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha Bhawan witnessed heated exchanges on Wednesday as opposition members clashed with the government over controversial remarks about the future of the state assembly building and the rollout of smart electricity meters.
Tensions escalated after Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj reportedly suggested that the Gairsain Vidhan Sabha building could be used for corporate events and weddings. The remark triggered strong protests from the opposition, with Leader of the Opposition Yashpal Arya calling the suggestion unacceptable.
“Gairsain is not merely a building; it is a symbol of the dreams, struggles, and the sacrifices made during the statehood movement,” Arya declared. “To propose turning a site established as a ‘Temple of Democracy’ into a wedding or corporate destination is an insult to the dignity of Uttarakhand. The government must clarify if it truly intends to commercialize such a sacred institution," Yashpal Arya said.
As the proceedings continued, Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya faced questions regarding her departments, which include Women Empowerment and Child Development, Food and Civil Supplies, and Sports.
During the discussion, Brijbhushan Gairola raised concerns about the ‘Matru Vandana Yojana’, questioning the gap between registration targets and the number of beneficiaries. Responding to the query, Arya said the difference was due to operational challenges related to criteria set under the National Health Survey.
Meanwhile, Mahesh Jeena sought clarification on the criteria used for distributing APL and BPL ration cards. On the issue of sports infrastructure, BJP MLA Suresh Gadiya asked about employment opportunities for medal-winning athletes. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami responded to concerns regarding the lack of sports facilities and said the upcoming budget includes provisions to build mini-stadiums in every development block.
The House witnessed further disruption during a Rule 58 discussion on the implementation of smart electricity meters. Opposition MLAs strongly protested, alleging a large-scale scam in the rollout.
Members of the opposition accused the government of forcing citizens to install smart meters after disconnecting existing electricity connections, claiming the move benefits private companies.
“The government must clarify whether these meters are mandatory or optional,” asserted Congress MLA Sumit Hridayesh, alleging that the project serves corporate interests rather than public utility.
Ravi Bahadur echoed similar concerns, claiming the technology is being “thrust upon the people.” Congress MLA Anupama Rawat also raised the issue of the increasing financial burden on farmers, stating that surcharges in many cases exceed the actual electricity bills and demanding an immediate waiver for farmers.