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Business News›News›Politics›Harish Rawat steps down from Congress posts after cash, gold recovered from his PA

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Harish Rawat steps down from Congress posts after cash, gold recovered from his PA
Synopsis

Rawat, a former CM, was a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level.

ANI

Dehradun: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Congress leader Harish Rawat stepped down from two Congress posts on Friday after a large amount of cash, jewellery and other valuables were recovered by the Enforcement Directorate from the possession of his PA, Chandan Singh Jeena. Rawat said the facts of the matter would become clear in due course.



The former CM was a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level.



Rawat said he did not want any action or conduct on his part to weaken the party's ongoing fight. "Therefore, after remembering my Isht Devta, I have taken a major decision. I am not holding any government post, so there is no question of resigning from one. However, I am a member of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee executive and a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee at the national level. I would like to respectfully step down from both these positions, because I do not want the party's struggle to be weakened in any way because of me," he said.

"However, this time, instead of knocking on my door, an attempt has been made to knock on the door of one of my associates and create a narrative," Rawat alleged.



He said the Congress party and its workers were united in their fight against corruption. "Rahul Gandhi is also raising his voice against corruption in the education system at the national level through the 'Students Ki Goonj' programme," he said.



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On the functioning of the Uttarakhand Subordinate Service Selection Commission (UKSSSC), Rawat said it had been established keeping in mind the future of the state's youth.



"We compelled the Public Service Commission to conduct examinations on time. Even during our short tenure, recruitment to top posts was conducted twice. We constituted recruitment boards, including a medical recruitment board and an education recruitment board," he said.



"If there was any error of judgement on our part during this process in relation to appointments, I apologise to the people of Uttarakhand. However, I would respectfully reiterate my claim that more than 42,000 government posts were filled during our three-year tenure," Rawat added.



Rawat said the person appointed as chairman of the UKSSSC had been selected on the basis of his previous service record. He said he himself had removed the chairman or sought his resignation after receiving complaints against him.



"Whatever terminology one may use, I took action against him after receiving complaints. His appointment was made on the basis of his previous service record. He belonged to a section of society whose representation in power I wanted to ensure," Rawat said.



He added that former Chief Minister Major General (Retd.) BC Khanduri had given him significant advice regarding the appointment.



"He came to meet me twice regarding his appointment. Even today, I believe that Khanduri ji always worked towards ensuring probity and combating corruption," Rawat said.



Rawat said that no one could predict where an individual might eventually go wrong. "Could the RSS have known that the person it was appointing as chairman of its environmental forum in Uttarakhand would commit such corrupt acts and eventually be disgraced as chairman of the Subordinate Service Selection Commission?" he asked.



The former Chief Minister said irregularities in recruitments and examinations amounted to playing with the future of the coming generations.



"If I have, knowingly or unknowingly, committed any act that has adversely affected the future of the youth of our state, I consider myself deserving of punishment for it. I apologise to the people of Uttarakhand for any such lapse," he said.



Rawat also made a public appeal, saying that if anyone had evidence of his involvement in interfering with appointments or recruitment processes, they should provide it to the CBI, ED or state police.



"Every person who gets an opportunity to hold a position of great responsibility must always stay away from such reprehensible temptations. If I have committed any such lapse, I reiterate that I consider myself deserving of punishment, and the law should punish me," he said.



The searches were carried out on September 10 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the ED said in a press release issued on Friday.



According to the agency, searches were conducted at the residential premises of the then Chairman and Secretary of UKSSSC, the then Exam Controller, the owner of the private computer agency engaged for OMR processing, and associated middlemen allegedly linked to the conspiracy.



The residence of Chandan Singh Jeena was also searched. Jeena had earlier served as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Harish Rawat during his tenure as Chief Minister from 2014 to 2017, the ED said.

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Harish RawatEnforcement DirectorateUKSSSC caseUttarakhand electionsharish rawat congress

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