New Delhi: Uttarakhand's finance and parliamentary affairs minister, Premchand Aggarwal, stepped down on Sunday (March 16) following widespread outrage over his remarks against the 'Pahadi' community. Aggarwal submitted his resignation to chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, citing intentional targeting and twisted statements.

“I was beaten with bamboos by the police during the struggle for the statehood. People have targeted me by twisting my statements. I am deeply sad and hurt the way I was treated,” Aggarwal was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

The controversy began during the Budget session in February when Aggarwal claimed Uttarakhand wasn't created solely for 'Pahadis' (people of the hills) and used unparliamentary language during a heated exchange with Congress MLA Madan Bisht. He argued that people from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh also inhabit the state's hills.

The Congress party and other organisations condemned Aggarwal's statement, labelling him 'anti-Pahadi' and criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not taking action against him.

Following the backlash the state government faced for neglecting and abusing hill residents, the BJP Uttarakhand chief Mahendra Bhatt reprimanded Aggarwal for his remarks, sources told The Hindu.

Aggarwal apologised for his remarks, however, as protests – particularly by the hill communities – continued, he was forced to to resign.

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