Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has apologised to residents of Kashipur after claiming that his Jan Samvad Yatra created inconvenience and that the government was preventing the tour from passing through the town.

Speaking in Kashipur, Rawat said he would have chosen a different route if he had known the visit would affect local people. He said the yatra could instead have begun from Ramnagar.

“Had I known my tour would have this impact, I wouldn't have included Kashipur in the itinerary at all; we would have started from Ramnagar,” Rawat said.

Rawat’s claim about the tour

Rawat alleged that the government was “so terrified” of the yatra that it did not want the programme to pass through Kashipur. The claim was made by Rawat, and no independent government response was included in the available material.

He apologised to what he called his “brothers and sisters in Kashipur” and said he would change the way future visits were organised.

“Next time, we will come without informing the BJP or officially announcing the schedule, so that we can meet our people,” Rawat said.

The remarks place the focus on the immediate effect of the outreach programme in Kashipur. Rawat’s statement indicates that residents faced inconvenience during the visit, although details about the nature or scale of that disruption is not yet available.

Political background

The Times of India reported on 05 October 2026 that Rawat proceeded with the outreach yatra despite objections from Congress leadership. Devdiscourse also reported that he continued with the Uttarakhand yatra despite objections from the party’s high command.

Daijiworld reported that Congress summoned Rawat over the solo yatra. Asianet Newsable reported that Selja told Rawat there was no room for a personal agenda in the Uttarakhand Congress.

These reports provide the wider political context surrounding the yatra, while Rawat’s Kashipur remarks focus on the local response and the alleged restrictions on his route. The available material does not state what action Congress ultimately took after the reported summons.

What happens next

Rawat said he would return to meet people without informing the BJP or formally announcing the schedule. He did not provide a date for another Kashipur visit.

The next confirmed development would be any official response from the Uttarakhand government, the BJP or Congress regarding his claims, the reported inconvenience and the future of the Jan Samvad Yatra.

Conclusion

Harish Rawat has apologised to Kashipur residents and claimed that government resistance affected his Jan Samvad Yatra. He said future visits would be arranged without advance public scheduling, but no date or official response has been provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Who made the statement about the Kashipur tour?

Harish Rawat, a former Uttarakhand Chief Minister, made the statement during his Jan Samvad Yatra.

Q. What did Rawat apologise for?

He apologised to Kashipur residents for the inconvenience he said the tour had caused.

Q. What did Rawat claim about the government?

He claimed that the government did not want the yatra to pass through Kashipur.

Q. Which alternative route did Rawat mention?

He said the tour could have started from Ramnagar instead of including Kashipur.

Q. How did Rawat say future visits would be organised?

He said future visits would take place without informing the BJP or officially announcing the schedule.

Q. Did Rawat announce the date of another Kashipur visit?

No. The available material contains no date for another visit.

Q. What political background has been reported about the yatra?

The Times of India and Devdiscourse reported that Rawat continued the yatra despite objections from Congress leadership. Daijiworld reported that Congress summoned him over the solo yatra.