The controversy over the use of the word ‘Pahadi’ during the 2025 Assembly session escalated so much that Premchand Aggarwal faced widespread opposition across the state. While the opposition criticized him, the general public was also outraged. People even burned his effigy to protest. As a result, Aggarwal had to resign from his ministerial position on Sunday.
Why Did Premchand Aggarwal Resign?
During the budget session, while responding to a question in the assembly, Aggarwal was mocked by the opposition using the term ‘Pahadi.’ This made him lose his temper. It is alleged that in response, he used offensive words for the people of the hills. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami even reprimanded him for this, after which Aggarwal apologized in the assembly. However, the controversy did not die down.
Speculation about Aggarwal’s resignation gained momentum when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Uttarakhand for a tour of Uttarkashi. Despite being the minister in charge of Uttarkashi, Aggarwal was noticeably absent from the entire event. Since then, discussions about his removal from the ministerial post had intensified.
Premchand Aggarwal’s Political Journey
Premchand Aggarwal has been active in politics since his youth. He was associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and later the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. His political career began when he won his first election from the Rishikesh Assembly seat in 2007. Since then, he has been elected as an MLA from Rishikesh for three consecutive terms.
