Uttarakhand ministers spar over venue to put up Vajpayee’s ashes

Uttarakhand cabinet ministers Satpal Maharaj and Madan Kaushik apparently fought for supremacy in Haridwar district over selecting a venue for putting up former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ashes before immersion in the Ganga.

Tourism minister Maharaj and urban development minister Kaushik have been at loggerheads since the former’s induction into BJP in 2014. Maharaj had suggested his Prem Nagar ashram as venue. But at the insistence of Kaushik, the venue was changed and Gayatri Teerth Shantikunj was named.

Shantikunj head Dr Pranav Pandya is apparently close to Kaushik. Chief minister TS Rawat had visited Shantikunj on Saturday and announced it to be the venue. The Maharaj faction, as per BJP insiders, conveyed its displeasure to party Uttarakhand in-charge Shyam Jaju and the CM’s office.

At midnight, the information department released a press communiqué, saying City Sports Stadium will be the venue, where Vajpayee’s ashes will be kept.

“The change of venue at the last moment was not apt, when several functions, be it religious, spiritual, social or political, are held at Prem Nagar ashram,” two-time Pauri Garhwal parliamentarian Maharaj said.

“Kaushik arrived last evening at my ashram. We both held talks but I can’t divulge more as other senior party leaders were also there,” Maharaj said.

Political rivalry between the two was fuelled last year after Maharaj was made cabinet minister in the Trivendra Singh Rawat government with major portfolios like tourism and culture.

As Maharaj was born in Kankhal area of Haridwar and has a grand Prem Nagar Ashram in the midst of the city, just adjacent to Kaushik’s residence at Khanna Nagar colony, both are viewed as local ministers.

Further, despite strong reservation from Kaushik, the chief minister appointed Maharaj as minister in-charge of Haridwar district.

When contacted, Kaushik, a four-time legislator, said there was no such thing of differences with Maharaj, who is worshipped by millions.

“I went to Prem Nagar ashram to hold talks with Maharaj and other party leaders. Many religious, spiritual and social functions are held at the ashram, where I get invited. Since Maharaj’s induction into BJP, many party related programmes were held there and we happily attend them. So, it’s just speculation that there are differences,” said Kaushik.