Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami questioned state Congress leaders over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about Ajit Doval. Dhami praised Doval’s security contributions, saying, "Devbhoomi Uttarakhand will not accept any compromise on the respect of its sons." Meanwhile, the government plans to expand medical education, aiming for 1,700 total MBBS seats soon.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged state Congress leaders to clarify their position on Rahul Gandhi's remarks about Ajit Doval, whom Dhami praised for his contributions to national security.
dhamiUttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami questioned the state Congress over Rahul Gandhi's comments about National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, asking party leaders to clarify whether they supported their national leader's remarks or stood by what Dhami called the state's pride.
Dhami said Doval had made important contributions to India's security and strategic interests. He urged political leaders to consider the seriousness of their language and facts when discussing national security, describing the subject as one that required responsible public debate.
Dhami said political differences were a natural part of democracy, but discussions on national security should be factual and responsible. "Devbhoomi Uttarakhand will not accept any compromise on the respect of its sons," he said, adding that all public representatives had a duty to maintain decorum and responsibility in public communication.
The Chief Minister also referred to people from Uttarakhand who had contributed to national service, military valour and national security. His statement framed respect for Doval as a question for the state Congress, while the demand for a public clarification remained Dhami's position.
Six government medical colleges currently have 675 MBBS seats. The Rudrapur medical college has been built and could soon receive permission for 100 MBBS seats. If the approval is granted, the number of seats in government colleges would rise to 775.
The state's figures put the capacity of four private medical colleges at 900 MBBS seats, while AIIMS Rishikesh has 125 seats. Together with the government colleges, these institutions take the state's total to 1,700 MBBS seats, including the potential 100-seat addition at Rudrapur only if it is approved.
Dhami said the government was working towards establishing a medical college in every district, with the stated aim of training doctors locally and reducing the need for students to leave Uttarakhand for medical education. Medical education director Ashutosh Sayana said the state was moving towards building a national and global profile in medical education and supplying trained healthcare workers in the future.