Rawat’s son to organise Kumaoni quiz, BJP sees it political move

HALDWANI: A Kumaoni “aan kath” quiz will be held in Haldwani in the first week of October, where students from each block of the district will participate.

The programme, being organised by Anand Rawat, son of chief minister Harish Rawat, is being viewed by opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as a political move by the Congress ahead of the assembly elections due early next year.

Anand Rawat, however, rubbished the allegation, saying that there is no political angle and the quiz is a socio-cultural event.

“I have been involved in cultural activities in the past and organised traditional sports in the state,” he said.

“I have now embarked on an initiative to link people with the Kumaoni dialect, which used to be patronised by the kings in the past.”

The selection of participants will start after September 25 and each team will have of a Class 11 student, whose parents will assist them, he said.

“The final will be held in the first week of October, probably on October 4.”

The quiz should not be looked at with a political frame of mind, he said. “I have found that children are neglecting the Kumaoni language, which is their mother tongue and this is an effort to instill pride in them.”

“Kumaoni and Garhwali languages must be promoted in a big way in the state by encouraging students to study in their mother tongue for professional advancement.”

He further said that though photographs of chief minister Harish Rawat and state revenue minister Yashpal Arya are being used as publicity material for the quiz, “the programme is totally apolitical”.

“Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders like Prakash Pant will be invited for the quiz, which has a social theme,” he said.

Pant, a former assembly speaker, however, said that he has not got any invitation for the quiz until now.