Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank joins office as union minister of HRD

The former chief minister of Uttarakhand n two time MP from Haridwar, 59 year old Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has been allocated the important portfolio of Human Resource Development.

Dr. Nishank today went tohis Shastri Bhawan office and took the charge as other ministers of Narendra Modi gvernment also did by visiting theirrespective minstries and acceptng bouquets n garlends as a mark of greetings.

The Himalayan state of Uttarakhand got an important share in the union cabinet in NDA part 2 government as portfolio of HRD is being considered as quite powerful in terms of dissemination of quality education in the distant parts of rural India n Uttarakhand where schools are being shut down n the standard of education is on a deteriorating level.

During the previous NDA government Uttarakhand was represented by a minister of state for textile portfolio which could hardly play any vital role in providing textile avenues or jobs to the unemployed. AjayTamata, an Almora MP was the minister of state representing the reserve constituency.

He has been sidelined this time as 24 other old ministers. Union HRD minister Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has thanked prime minister Narendra Modi and BJP supremo Amit Shah for giving him such an important responsibility. Dr. Pokhriyal said whilehe is quite delighted for having been elevated to cabinet rank as minister of Human Resource Development but the challenges are also high n multi pronged.

Dr. Nishank was not included in the previous NDA government because of the silent internal squabbles between him n the then MP from Nainital Bhagat Singh Koshiyari as both wrre the ministerial aspirants. In order to keep the dissensions at bay the prime minister had then on the advise of Amit Shah chosen a new, young and non controvertial dalit incumbent who had been the minister in Major General Bhuvan Chandra Khanduri’s cabinet in 2007.

But for the reasons best known to the prime minister Narendra Modi Tamata was dropped this time and Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was obliged. However this time, Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank’s bete noire 76 year old former MP Bhagat Singh Koshiyari was not given the party ticket and the former’sentry into the union cabinet fructified easily.

However there are rumours that Patanjali head n popular saint Ram Dev had lobbied for Dr. Nishank n his request had been aceded to. Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has very cordialn trusted relationship with Baba Ram Dev and his high profile state of the Art Patanjali Ahram is also situated in Haridwar.

The relationship between Baba Ramdev n Dr. Nishank gained momentum since 2008 n even before when he was the chief minister of Uttarakhand after the then CM Major Genetal B.C. Khaduri’s unceremonial exit. It may be recalled that Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank started his active political career in 1990/ 91 when he defeated the then higher education minister of UP n late political stalwart HN Bahuguna’s protege Dr. Shivanand Nautiyal from Karnaprayag legislative constituency in Garhwal. Thereafter Dr. Nishank never looked back.

In 2008 he became the CM of Uttarakhand replacing Major general Khanduri who recommended his name to the BJP high command in order to block Koshiyari’s chances. He has been two time MP from Haidwar onBJP ticket. An old RSSite Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank had been a journalist, writer and a poet.

Prior to joining active politics he used to run his own vernacular newspaper published from Pauri n had also been a teacher and principal of Shishu Mandir School.

A soft spoken, intelligent n sharp Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank has several books to his credit n has also been honoured with several distinguished awards for litetature n writing.

His both the daughters are quite brilliant one in Indian Army as a medical doctor n another a reputed classical dancer n producer of a regional film Major Nirala. Meanwhile the former minister of state for textiles n MP from Almora Ajay Tamata today congratulated Dr. Nishank athis Teen Murti Lane house by presenting him a bouquet n wished him good luck.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nishank too met the BJP chief Amit Shah at his residence and thanked him by offering a bouquet of flowers n sweets for including himin the union cabinet as HRD minister.