BJP panel to probe Haridwar incident

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, August 14

The tussle between Haridwar MLA and Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik and Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj, which resulted in their supporters coming to blows with each other at Haridwar, has been referred to the Disciplinary Committee of the state unit of the BJP.

The open war between the two senior BJP leaders alerted the national leadership, which then asked state BJP chief Ajay Bhatt and Chief Minister TS Rawat to hold talks with Madan Kaushik and Satpal Maharaj.

However, Satpal Maharaj is said to have demanded immediate action and expressed his unwillingness to be co-opted after which the state BJP chief Ajay Bhatt referred the matter to the Disciplinary committee.

“The matter is before the Disciplinary Committee, which is headed by Gyan Singh Negi. It will present its report to the party within 15 days,” said Ajay Bhatt, Uttarakhand BJP chief.

Satpal Maharaj reportedly objected to dumping of garbage outside Prem Ashram Gate, which is run by him, by the MC employees. 

Earlier, the Haridwar Municipal Corporation removed encroachment outside Prem Ashram, which exasperated Satpal Maharaj and his supporters. The latter launched an indefinite sit-in as a mark of protest. The anti-encroachment drive was spearheaded by the Mayor of Haridwar, who is reportedly a close associate of Madan Kaushik.