Former CM observes token fast

Dehradun: Former chief minister Harish Rawat today staged a token fast in protest against the Uttarakhand government for not holding the budget session of the state assembly in Gairsain and said it had hurt the sentiments of those who had fought for statehood.

The former CM led a procession of Congressmen from a hotel towards the state assembly and sat on a token fast when intercepted by policemen at a barricade near Rispana bridge.

Addressing supporters there, Rawat said by not holding the budget session in Gairsain, which represents aspirations of statehood movement leaders, the BJP government had shown disrespect to people who had fought for statehood to Uttarakhand.

He also took on the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, saying the good days he had promised are still a distant dream.

Condemning the killing of farmers at Mandsaur in Madhya Pradesh, he said he will meditate on the banks of the Ganga at Har ki Pairi in Haridwar tomorrow to pray for peace to their souls.

—PTI