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Ex-minister Harak Singh Rawat embroiled in controversy over alleged remarks against Sikh community

DEHRADUN: Former Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister and senior Congress leader, Harak Singh Rawat, found himself embroiled in controversy on Saturday after allegedly making inappropriate remarks targeting the Sikh community during a public gathering in Dehradun. The incident occurred while Rawat was expressing solidarity with striking lawyers, quickly escalating, forcing the veteran politician into a public apology. Rawat visited the ongoing agitation by the Dehradun Bar Association to show support. According to senior advocate Virendra Singh Khurana, Rawat reportedly made an indecorous comment while gesturing to a Sikh advocate to raise slogans. The alleged statement was immediately deemed socially inappropriate and offensive by members of the legal fraternity present. As news of the remark spread among the assembled lawyers, strong protests erupted. Faced with mounting anger, a visibly rattled Rawat immediately retracted his statement. He had no intention of hurting the sentiments of any community, and he has expressed regret if his words were misunderstood, a source close to Rawat stated. Although the advocates accepted the apology, the matter has swiftly gained political traction, potentially causing significant damage to the Congress party in the state. Uttarakhand BJP under fire as Harak Singh Rawat demands donor list for Rs 27 crore party fund Political analysts suggest this is not an isolated incident for Rawat, whose past statements have often made the party uncomfortable. BJP spokesperson Honey Pathak quickly seized on the controversy, stating, Since joining Congress from the BJP, Rawat has consistently failed to manage his image, and this incident could further erode his political credibility. Political analyst Shakti Singh Barthwal noted that such utterances directly undermine the Congress's message of social harmony and secularism in the state. These kinds of statements are damaging for Congress, especially when the party is trying to project an image of unity, Barthwal commented. The fallout extended to social media, where various Sikh organisations condemned the comment as insensitive, urging leaders to maintain respect for all communities in public forums. While Rawat managed to quell the immediate protest with an apology, observers believe this controversy will linger in the political discourse of Dehradun for some time.