Gairsain, March 11 -- Congress legislators on Wednesday condemned state tourism minister Satpal Maharaj's proposal to develop the legislative assembly building in Gairsain into a destination venue for corporate events. Addressing the session on Wednesday, Leader of Opposition Yashpal Arya said, "The suggestion to turn the Gairsain Assembly building into a wedding and corporate destination is highly condemnable." "Gairsain is not just a building, but a symbol of the struggles, dreams, and spirit of the statehood movement of the people of Uttarakhand. Talking about using a place established as the temple of democracy for weddings, or corporate events is an insult to the state's identity. The government should immediately clarify whether it truly intends to turn a sacred institution like the Assembly into a venue for tourism and business events.The people of Uttarakhand demand a clear answer from the government on this issue," Arya said. On Monday, Maharaj said he requested assembly speaker Ritu Khanduri Bhushan to allow the tourism department to use the assembly building to keep it from being a "white elephant." Speaking on the sidelines of the first day of the session, Maharaj had said that if the building could host corporate meetings and events on the tourism department's watch. "Large corporate groups can come here and hold meetings. This will ensure that the building does not remain a white elephant. Once it starts being used, it will also generate employment opportunities for local people, and visitors will get a chance to experience the grandeur of the building," he said. Addressing the controversy, former chief minister Harish Rawat said, "Twenty-five years after the state's formation, Satpal Maharaj discovered the truth. Gairsain will not be the state capital, but rather the Vidhan Sabha building in Bhararisain will be a tourist destination. Just as the tourism department is developing other tourist destinations, such as George Everest in Mussoorie, the Vidhan Sabha building in Bhararisain will now be used for tourism purposes. In fact, I would advise Satpal Maharaj to hold his first satsang in the Vidhan Sabha building in Bhararisain."...