Politics – BJP Questions Rahul Gandhi’s Early Exit After Weather-Hit Uttarakhand Visit
Politics – The Bharatiya Janata Party has criticized senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after his scheduled public engagements in Uttarakhand were cancelled because of adverse weather conditions. The ruling party questioned why Gandhi chose to leave instead of meeting residents and party supporters in areas where conditions remained suitable for public interaction.
BJP Raises Questions Over Cancelled Programmes
State BJP president and Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Bhatt said the cancellation of events in the hill districts due to poor weather was understandable from a safety standpoint. However, he argued that Gandhi still had opportunities to connect with people in other parts of the state. According to Bhatt, if travelling to the hills was not possible, the Congress leader could have met citizens in the plains and interacted with party workers in Dehradun.
Bhatt also remarked that the absence of an election season was fortunate, suggesting that otherwise Congress leaders might have blamed political opponents even for weather-related disruptions affecting helicopter operations.
Doubts Over Public Response to Visit
The BJP leader further claimed that Congress leaders were uncertain about the level of public support they would receive during the visit. He alleged that there was limited enthusiasm among local residents and former servicemen, a key group Gandhi was expected to meet during his Uttarakhand tour.
According to Bhatt, deteriorating weather conditions provided a convenient reason to cut short the remaining engagements. He described the visit as largely symbolic and suggested that Gandhi departed quickly once the planned schedule was interrupted.
Debate Over State Issues and Public Engagement
Commenting on Gandhi’s stated intention to discuss social and economic concerns facing Uttarakhand, Bhatt said there was little reason for residents to eagerly anticipate the Congress leader’s arrival. While acknowledging the state’s tradition of welcoming visitors, he accused Gandhi of previously making remarks that, in the BJP’s view, damaged the image of Uttarakhand and disrespected its cultural and religious traditions.
The BJP leader also referred to Gandhi’s planned stop at a gym in Kotdwar, which had been mentioned repeatedly in programme announcements and social media posts. Bhatt argued that the emphasis on the visit suggested it held special importance for the Congress leader. He further noted that Gandhi and other Congress representatives had met the gym owner on several occasions in the past.
Rahul Gandhi Explains Cancellation
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi addressed the people of Uttarakhand through a post on X, explaining why the scheduled public meeting could not take place. He said he had reached Pantnagar and was expected to travel to Almora by helicopter for a public gathering. However, the pilot declined to proceed because weather conditions were considered unsafe for the flight.
Gandhi expressed disappointment that he could not meet residents as planned. He said he had hoped to spend time listening to people’s experiences, concerns, aspirations and challenges. The Congress leader added that discussions on the state’s economic and social issues were part of the planned agenda.
Planned Meetings Left Incomplete
Apart from the Almora public meeting, Gandhi was also scheduled to hold discussions with ex-servicemen in Pauri Garhwal. A visit to Kotdwar’s Hulk Gym was included in the itinerary as well. Due to the weather-related disruption, these engagements could not be completed.
The cancellation has since sparked a political exchange between the BJP and Congress, with both sides presenting different interpretations of the circumstances surrounding the interrupted visit.