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Pithoragarh: Congress MLA Harish Dhami allegedly vandalised a stage set up for the Jauljibi Fair here after he was denied an opportunity to speak in the presence of Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, who inaugurated the fair near the India-Tibet border.

Microphones and chairs were allegedly thrown on the stage after the chief minister left the venue.

The BJP condemned the "abusive language" used by the Dharchula MLA from the stage and called for an FIR against him.

Earlier, Chief Minister Pushkar Dhami inaugurated the 10-day Jauljibi Fair, where goods from three regions -- Tibet, India and Nepal -- are showcased and sold.

After the ruckus, Harish Dhami said, "I am the chairperson of this fair, yet I was not even given the chance to speak or present the demands of the local people to the chief minister."

"This government is corrupt and is afraid of the opposition. The chief minister lacks the courage to hear the truth about the rampant corruption in the state," he said.

Harish Dhami had wished to address the gathering before the CM.

Shortly after, Congress workers gathered, protesting why another Congress MLA from the district, Mayukh Singh Mahar, had not been invited to the inauguration.

District Congress President Mukesh Pant said, "By failing to invite an elected representative from the district, the government has completely disregarded all values."

In a subsequent social media post, MLA Harish Dhami explained that he wanted to raise two issues with the government: the death of an eight-year-old girl in the region two days before, and concerns regarding road connectivity in Kanar.

"Was raising one's voice on such serious matters constituted a crime?" he asked.

"Chief Minister, a fair is not merely a platform to sing praises of the government. It is a democratic forum to voice the problems, suffering and rights of the people of this state. As an elected representative, it is my moral and constitutional duty to bring forth the concerns of the people of my constituency," he said.

Senior BJP leader Mahendra Singh Budiyal said the event had already been shortened due to the CM's time constraints and condemned the Congress MLA's conduct on stage.

"The abusive language used by the MLA against the chief minister is condemnable. The BJP views this as a sign of the MLA's frustration, as the Congress party's support base in the Dharchula assembly constituency is weakening," Budiyal said.

He said that the BJP's district unit has decided that if an FIR is not filed against Harish Dhami by Sunday afternoon, cultural programmes at the Jauljibi Fair will not be allowed.

Earlier, the CM Pushkar Dhami inaugurated the Jauljibi Fair and said, "The fair reflects the historical trade relations between the three regions, as well as the rich cultural heritage of the border area."

This year, the stalls feature woollen goods imported from Tibet via the India-Tibet trade route, alongside products by Indian and Nepalese traders.