Congress MLA Smashes Event Stage After Being Denied Speaking Time

Stage Vandalised

A Congress MLA and his supporters vandalised an inauguration stage in Uttarakhand after the lawmaker was not allowed to speak at the event. Harish Dhami, the MLA from Dharchula, targeted the stage at the 10-day Jauljibi Mela in Pithoragarh district on Saturday. The incident happened shortly after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the traditional fair and left the venue.

Protest and Claims

Harish Dhami serves as the chairperson of the fair committee. He said the state government is afraid of facing the opposition and lacks the courage to hear the truth about corruption. Congress workers also staged a protest on the stage because Pithoragarh MLA Mayukh Singh Mahar was allegedly not invited. District Congress president Mukesh Pant said the administration broke moral ethics by ignoring an elected representative.

Official Responses

Dharchula station house officer AK Singh said the program had already ended and the chief minister had left when the incident happened. Police have not received a written complaint yet, but BJP workers plan to submit one. Local BJP leader Mahendra Singh Budiyal condemned the MLA's actions and abusive language, calling it frustration because the Congress party is losing support in the Dharchula constituency. Earlier, the chief minister had inaugurated the cultural and trade fair that features traders from India, Nepal, and Tibet.

Context

Traditional fairs in border regions often serve as important platforms for local leaders to raise regional demands directly with top state officials. Protocol disputes between ruling party administrations and opposition legislators frequently spark political tensions during high-profile public events.