The BJP alleged that change in the Uttarakhand's excise policy by erstwhile Harish Rawat government had caused a loss of Rs 560 crore per year to the exchequer. (File photo)
Favouring early Assembly polls in Uttarakhand, BJP today claimed it had "rid" the people of the state from a government "engaged in loot" and it was time for them to deliver a verdict.
Accusing former chief minister Harish Rawat and state Assembly Speaker Govind Singh Kunjwal of being responsible for the current crisis in the state, Uttarakhand BJP chief Ajay Bhatt said in a scenario like this BJP looks upon elections as a better option.
Expressing the party's readiness to accept the outcome in case of a floor test in the state Assembly on April 29, he said going to people for a fresh mandate appears necessary to uphold democratic values.
However, Mr Bhatt, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, said being a political party BJP will work out a strategy for the floor test if at all that takes place.
Asked what BJP had achieved from the political goings on in the state since March 18, he claimed the party had been able to expose "plunder" before the people of the state.
Alleging that change in the state's excise policy by erstwhile Rawat government had caused a loss of Rs 560 crore per year to the exchequer, Mr Bhatt said compared to Mr Rawat's tenure there was a substantial increase in the collection of revenue from excise and mining departments in just one month of President's Rule.
He also attacked Mr Kunjwal for his style of functioning saying seeking a division of votes on the Appropriation Bill was the constitutional right of the legislators, which they were denied.
Asking Congress and PDF legislators to align with BJP, he said it was time to "atone" for what they had done and think of the state's welfare.
Terming as false allegations about BJP trying to lure away Congress-PDF legislators, Mr Bhatt said the onus of whatever has happened to Congress and whatever happens to it in future rests on Harish Rawat and PCC chief Kishor Upadhyay. "It is no use blaming BJP for your internal conflicts," he said.
Mr Bhatt also promised to work for instituting a high-level probe into all scams during Congress government if BJP is voted back to power.
"If we are voted back to power, we will institute high-level investigations into all scams which took place under Congress rule, including a CBI probe into the disaster relief scam," he said.