Congress MLA Creates Ruckus at Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh Fair After Being Denied Chance to Speak Before CM Dhami

A political controversy erupted at the Jauljibi Fair in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district after Congress MLA Harish Singh Dhami allegedly threw a microphone and created a disturbance on the stage. The MLA was reportedly upset after he was not allowed to address the gathering in the presence of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami. The incident took place shortly after the Chief Minister inaugurated the fair and left the venue. Videos of the incident also went viral on social media.

MLA Says He Was Not Given a Chance to Speak

Harish Singh Dhami, who represents the Dharchula Assembly constituency, is also the chairperson of the fair committee. He said that he was not given an opportunity to speak or present the problems of local people before the Chief Minister. According to reports, when he tried to address the gathering after the CM left, his microphone stopped working. This angered the MLA, who confronted the sound system staff and allegedly threw the microphone. Some chairs and other stage equipment were also reportedly damaged during the incident.

The MLA said he wanted to raise several important issues related to his constituency:

• The death of an eight-year-old girl in the region in a road accident.
• Poor road connectivity in the Kanar area.
• Unfulfilled promises related to local development projects.
• Problems faced by residents of Dharchula and nearby areas.

Congress and BJP Leaders React to the Incident

Congress MLA Harish Dhami accused the state government of ignoring opposition leaders and avoiding questions about local problems. He said that the fair was not just a place to praise the government but also an opportunity to raise public issues. He also questioned why he was not allowed to speak despite being the chairperson of the fair. The MLA later apologised to the people if his behaviour had hurt anyone.

Congress leaders also criticised the administration over the incident. Party workers protested against the alleged decision not to invite another Congress MLA from Pithoragarh, Mayukh Singh Mahar, to the inauguration programme. District Congress president Mukesh Pant reportedly said that not inviting an elected public representative showed a lack of respect for democratic values.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders strongly criticised Harish Dhami's behaviour. Senior BJP leader Mahendra Singh Budiyal reportedly said that the MLA's actions and language against the Chief Minister were unacceptable. He also said that the programme had been kept short because of the Chief Minister's busy schedule. The BJP demanded action against the MLA and warned that cultural programmes at the fair could be stopped if an FIR was not registered against him.

Jauljibi Fair Turns Into Centre of Political Controversy

The Jauljibi Fair is an important traditional trade and cultural event held near the India-Nepal border, at the meeting point of the Kali and Gori rivers. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the fair and highlighted its historical importance. The fair brings together traders from India, Nepal and Tibet, with stalls selling woollen products, handicrafts and other local goods. The incident has now turned the fair's inauguration into a political controversy.