Mic drop: Congress MLA throws microphone at Uttarakhand fair, dares CM Dhami to face him in bypoll

A day after chaos erupted at the inauguration of the Jauljibi Fair in Uttarakhand's Pithoragarh district, Congress MLA Harish Singh Dhami on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, accusing him of corruption and challenging him to contest a by-election. The Dharchula legislator, who was at the centre of Saturday's confrontation, said he was prepared to face further legal action and claimed that he had nothing to fear. "The Chief Minister is running away and living in fear, he is afraid because he has engaged in corruption. As for me, I have never been involved in corruption or committed any wrongdoing; that is why I have nothing to fear.

I stand tall and unafraid," Harish Dhami told ANI. #WATCH | Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand: Following yesterday's uproar at the Jauljibi Fair, Congress MLA from Dharchula, Harish Dhami, says, "An 8-year-old child has lost his life, yet he feels no shame -- instead, he boasts about having built such a beautiful road all the way to Lipulekh. Did he not feel even a shred of shame while saying this, considering he had visited the child's home just the day before to offer his condolences to the grieving family? We had hoped that the Chief Minister would take some concrete action for the people of Kanar, who are currently on an indefinite hunger strike in Bitaugarh, and send a representative to persuade them to end their protest.

We also expected a representative of the Chief Minister to visit the family of the 8-year-old child who passed away and acknowledge that this was a failure on the government's part, ensuring that no other child would lose their life on this road in the future. The Chief Minister is running away and living in fear -- he is afraid because he has engaged in corruption. As for me, I have never been involved in corruption or committed any wrongdoing; that is why I have nothing to fear. I stand tall and unafraid. I have told the Chief Minister today: 'Take whatever action you wish to take. You have kept me entangled in legal cases for years on end -- go ahead and file another one; I can handle that too.' To us, handcuffs are like ornaments.

I have challenged Pushkar Dhami directly: 'If you have the courage, face me in a by-election today.' If I don't ensure that your security deposit is forfeited, then my name isn't Harish Dhami." (Pic-2 screenshot from a viral video that showed the MLA hurling his mic off stage) -- ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2026 Escalating his attack, the Congress MLA said he had already challenged the chief minister to face him in a by-election. "I have challenged Pushkar Dhami directly, 'If you have the courage, face me in a by-election today.' If I don't ensure that your security deposit is forfeited, then my name isn't Harish Dhami," he said.

He also referred to the legal cases against him, dismissing the possibility of being intimidated by further proceedings. "I have told the Chief Minister today: 'Take whatever action you wish to take. You have kept me entangled in legal cases for years on end, go ahead and file another one; I can handle that too.' To us, handcuffs are like ornaments," he said. The political confrontation follows a disruptive episode at the inauguration of the historic Jauljibi Fair on November 14. Harish Dhami allegedly objected to not being given an opportunity to address the gathering from the stage. The disagreement reportedly escalated, with the Congress MLA and his supporters allegedly throwing chairs from the stage and damaging a microphone.

Police have registered a case against six named individuals, including Harish Singh Dhami, who is also the chairman of the fair committee. According to the police, the incident took place after Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated the fair and left the venue. Harish Dhami and his supporters allegedly raised slogans, used abusive language and vandalised property. Police personnel present at the spot reportedly attempted to intervene, but a scuffle broke out, allegedly obstructing government work. Jauljibi Kotwali police have registered a case under Sections 121(1), 132, 191(2), 324(3) and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

An investigation is underway. The Congress MLA also questioned the chief minister's remarks about the road connecting Lipulekh, invoking the death of an eight-year-old child to criticise the government's claims about infrastructure development. Taking aim at Pushkar Singh Dhami's remarks about the road, Harish Dhami questioned how the chief minister could praise the infrastructure when a child had lost their life. "An eight-year-old child has lost his life, yet he feels no shame, instead, he boasts about having built such a beautiful road all the way to Lipulekh," he said. He further pointed out that the chief minister had visited the child's family just a day before the fair to offer condolences.

"Did he not feel even a shred of shame while saying this, considering he had visited the child's home just the day before to offer his condolences to the grieving family?" the MLA asked. Harish Dhami also alleged that the government had failed to respond adequately to the concerns of residents of Kanar, who are currently on an indefinite hunger strike in Bitaugarh. "We had hoped that the Chief Minister would take some concrete action for the people of Kanar, who are currently on an indefinite hunger strike in Bitaugarh, and send a representative to persuade them to end their protest," he said.

He added that the government should have acknowledged its responsibility following the child's death and taken steps to prevent similar incidents. "We also expected a representative of the Chief Minister to visit the family of the eight-year-old child who passed away and acknowledge that this was a failure on the government's part, ensuring that no other child would lose their life on this road in the future," he said.