Dehradun: The BJP has hit back at Congress over its remarks on the proposed Cabinet meeting in Uttarakhand’s border districts, with party spokesperson Honey Pathak asserting that the government’s presence in remote border areas is aimed at accelerating development, connectivity and livelihood opportunities.
Pathak said the Centre and the state government were working to strengthen basic infrastructure and economic opportunities in border villages, arguing that such areas should be viewed not only from the perspective of national security but also as an important part of Uttarakhand’s social and economic development.
Citing the Vibrant Villages Programme, Pathak said the Centre’s ₹4,800-crore initiative covers 662 villages along the northern border, including 51 villages in Uttarakhand. She said the programme focuses on roads, healthcare, education, electricity, communication, tourism, skill development, agriculture, horticulture and local employment.
According to figures cited by the BJP spokesperson, 152 projects had been sanctioned in Uttarakhand under the Vibrant Villages Programme by July 2026. She also said 1,836 activities had been conducted in the state, including health and veterinary camps, training programmes, service delivery initiatives and tourism-related activities.
Focus on Border Connectivity
Pathak said connectivity in border areas had also been accorded priority. She stated that 112 road and 35 long-span bridge projects, with a combined cost of ₹2,513.35 crore, had been sanctioned to connect 135 previously unconnected border villages.
She further cited the second phase of the Vibrant Villages Programme, under which the Centre has provided for the development of 1,954 villages with an allocation of ₹6,839 crore, as part of the broader focus on border-area infrastructure and development.
Health and Livelihood Initiatives
Highlighting state-level initiatives, Pathak referred to the Swasth Seema Abhiyan, saying the initiative aims to expand access to healthcare in 108 border villages across Pithoragarh, Chamoli and Uttarkashi.
She said the government’s approach was not limited to infrastructure but also included healthcare, livelihoods and other basic services aimed at strengthening communities in remote areas.
BJP Questions Congress Over Opposition to Cabinet Meeting
Taking a direct swipe at Congress, Pathak questioned why the opposition was raising objections both when the government discussed border areas from Dehradun and when it planned to hold a Cabinet meeting in a border region.
She argued that the impact of development initiatives should be assessed through concrete outcomes such as roads, healthcare, communication facilities and livelihood opportunities reaching remote villages.
Pathak said border areas were not merely a venue for political activity but were closely linked to national security and Uttarakhand’s long-term socio-economic strength.
She credited the Pushkar Singh Dhami-led government with focusing on bringing border areas into the mainstream of development and urged Congress to place before the public a record of the work undertaken in these regions during its previous tenure.
