Uttarakhand finance minister who has resigned over Pahari row: Who is Prem Chand Aggarwal?

In his two-decade political career, the limelight has been on Aggarwal who is originally from Dehradun’s Doiwala over various squabbles.

In 2018, the 64-year-old was embroiled in controversy after his son Piyush was appointed to a non-permanent post in Jal Sansthan through Uttarakhand’s Purv Sainik Kalyan Nigam scheme that was only open to ex-servicemen or their dependents. The Jal Sansthan is a government body that implements schemes for water supply. Piyush had to quit following media reports that alleged Aggarwal’s role in the appointment.

In 2019, he had a run-in with former Union Minister of State Bhagat Ram Kothari during a programme in Rishikesh. The two hurled abuses at each other, with Kothari calling Aggarwal “worthless”.

Aggarwal was booked for rioting in 2023 after he and his supporters were caught on camera beating a man in Rishikesh. In the video, Aggarwal was seen arguing with the man and then assaulting him.

According to the man, who subsequently filed a complaint, the scuffle began while they were stuck in traffic. “I was sitting on a bike near the vehicle of Minister Premchand Aggarwal. My eyes went towards the car. Aggarwal lowered the glass of the car window and asked me what I was saying. I replied that I was not saying anything about him. The minister got angry and said that I had given him a headache… He opened the car’s door and hit me hard on my knee twice,” the complainant said at the time.

Aggarwal’s term as Speaker between 2017 and 2022 came under scrutiny two years ago following allegations of backdoor appointments at the Assembly Secretariat. Current Speaker Ritu Khanduri has revoked 228 ad-hoc appointments, of which 78 were made when Aggarwal was Speaker.

In December 2024, Piyush was booked under the Tree Protection Act for felling two trees in the restricted category to build a resort. The felling of 17 tree species, even on private land, is prohibited without permission under this act.

What ultimately brought Aggarwal’s ministerial tenure to a premature end were his comments about Paharis. Addressing the Assembly during the Budget Session on February 21, Aggarwal launched into a tirade while discussing alleged corruption in the Almora development authority.

Aggarwal said: “Is this why we sacrificed? Is Uttarakhand just for people in the hills? And, who is in the hills? Some came from Madhya Pradesh while a few others came from Rajasthan. You are dividing people into Kumaon, Garhwal, Pahari, and Desi. Will you object only because I am Aggarwal?”