Express News Service
DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand Education Minister has ordered an inquiry into the security lapse of the Chief Minister during an event at a university in Rishikesh. It is alleged that the seating chart of the guests on the stage was changed at the last moment and during this time a former Vice-Chancellor also sat on the stage who was carrying a revolver with him.
According to the information received, on February 27, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the foundation stone laying ceremony of the academic and administrative building of the Rishikesh campus of Shridev Suman University.
Speaking to The New Indian Express, Minister of Health, Medical Education and Higher Education, Dr Dhan Singh Rawat said, “We have formed a three-member committee headed by Higher Education Secretary Ravinath Raman, which will submit its report after a thorough investigation into the entire incident. On the basis of which action will be ensured against responsible and negligent officials”.
In the complaint sent to the Education Minister, it has been alleged that without approval, the plan of the guests to sit in the forum was changed and such people were given space on the stage, which could have threatened the security of the Chief Minister. The complaint also stated that the university registrar Khemraj Bhatt had approved the chart of seating arrangements for guests on the dais and forwarded it to the office of the chief minister and other ministers.
“It is alleged that Registrar Khemraj Bhatt also sent invitation letters to several retired officers for the event without the permission of the Vice-Chancellor. Not only this, a former Vice-Chancellor was made to sit on the stage, defying the CM’s security. Even the Additional Secretary could not get a place on the stage”.
It is alleged that the former vice-chancellor also brought a revolver with him on the stage. This put the chief minister’s security at risk. While many people had to be uncomfortable due to lack of space on the stage. Apart from Education Minister Dr. Dhan Singh Rawat, Finance Minister Prem Chandra Agarwal was also present in the program.
The official WhatsApp group of the state information department has removed all photos in support of the former vice-chancellor after he was accused of sitting on stage with a revolver.
Khemraj Bhatt, registrar of Sri Devsuman University, said, “The complaint letter is misleading and fabricated. It has been written on behalf of the people of the university, whose CR has been wrong for three consecutive years and three committees are investigating it”.
