Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has clarified that he has not resigned from the Congress party or from his organisational positions, following reports that his earlier remarks suggested he had stepped down amid a controversy involving cash and recruitment allegations.
In a fresh Facebook post, Rawat said he remains firmly associated with the Congress and has no intention of leaving the party. Emphasising his long-standing relationship with the organisation, he said Congress membership was deeply rooted in his identity and that he would continue to remain with the party.
Rawat explained that his earlier statement was conditional. He said that if the recent Enforcement Directorate episode in Dehradun affected the Congress’s campaign and its position on fighting corruption, he would want to resign from the two organisational posts he currently holds. These include membership of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee’s executive and the position of permanent invitee to the All India Congress Committee Working Committee.
His clarification came after media reports interpreted his earlier Facebook post as an announcement of his resignation. Rawat urged media organisations to consider the complete context of his statement and correct reports suggesting that he had already quit.
The controversy relates to reports of cash and jewellery allegedly seized from Jina, Rawat’s former Officer on Special Duty and aide, in Dehradun. Rawat said the facts would emerge with time and defended his former aide while acknowledging that any proven involvement in recruitment irregularities would be unacceptable.
With Uttarakhand elections approaching, Rawat said the controversy carries significant political implications and stressed that nothing associated with him should weaken the Congress’s anti-corruption narrative.
