DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday announced a three-day state mourning following the death of chief of defence staff, General Bipin Rawat. As per protocol, the national flag will fly half-mast at government buildings and no official event will be held for entertainment purpose during the state mourning from December 9 to 11.
Besides, the two-day winter session of the Uttarakhand assembly – scheduled to start from December 9 – has now been extended by a day. On the first day of the session i.e on December 10, members of the Uttarakhand assembly will adopt a condolence motion, expressing profound grief over the demise of Gen Bipin Rawat, who was from the Pauri district of the Himalayan state.
The business advisory committee of the state assembly has given its consent to pay tribute to Gen Rawat on the first day of the session. “After paying condolences, the House would be adjourned for the first day,” said Speaker Prem Chand Aggarwal. This is said to be the last assembly session before the upcoming polls.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a two-minute silence was observed in Gen Rawat’s memory during the BJP legislative party meeting at the CM residence. Expressing grief, CM Dhami said, “It is a huge loss for the country and Uttarakhand. The entire state has lost a family member. Gen Rawat devoted his life to the nation. It is a personal loss for me. He was a simple person who guided me.”
In the wake of Gen Rawat's death, the Uttarakhand unit of Congress canceled a press conference and all other party activities on Wednesday. Paying tribute to Army General, former CM Harish Rawat said, “A pall of gloom has descended upon the entire state and country. His achievements brought laurels to the state and we all are extremely proud of him. He has left behind a big vacuum.”
Former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat, who is also a Pauri resident, said, “I am speechless. Gen Rawat’s departure has sent the entire Uttarakhand in a state of shock.” Notably, Trivendra Singh Rawat held several interactions with Gen Rawat in his four-year tenure as the state CM.
