Dehradun, Oct. 27 -- A political row has erupted in the state over former CM and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat's October 21 statement when he said he was hopeful that young people from the Brahmin community would be given responsibilities in districts by his party, with the BJP accusing the Congress of dividing the society. The Congress, distancing itself from his statement, said the party takes along every section of the society. Some party functionaries, meanwhile, said requesting anonymity that it was an attempt to woo the Brahmin voters ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. Rawat, in a Facebook post on October 21, had said, "After this Diwali, the world may face even more widespread turmoil, wars, missiles, and destruction. In India, tension and intolerance are steadily rising. The politics of the BJP have altered the country's traditionally tolerant and inclusive character. Before and after independence, Indian politics and society were guided by liberal Brahminical principles. While there were shortcomings, politics was marked by harmony and tolerance. Today, there is a pressing need to rediscover that spirit of tolerance...The Congress Organisation Building Campaign is moving toward a major transformation. I hope that in this process, a significant number of young people from the Brahmin community will take on responsibilities in the districts." "Tolerance is an inherent quality of Brahmins, and every good initiative must begin somewhere. I pray that in Uttarakhand, it begins now," he said. Suryakant Dhasmana, senior vice president (organisation) of the Uttarakhand Pradesh Congress Committee, said, "Two senior leaders from the Brahmin community, ND Tiwari and Vijay Bahuguna, were given the opportunity by the Congress to serve as chief ministers. Harish Rawat, who belongs to the Rajput community, also became chief minister. As for the Scheduled Caste community, Yashpal Arya was made the UKPCC president and Speaker of the Vidhan Sabha. Leaders from all communities have held top positions in the party. The Congress has never neglected any section of society.... we have always taken everyone along. The BJP, on the other hand, has never given anyone from the Scheduled Caste community such an opportunity." "I don't know in what context Rawat made the statement. I refrain from commenting on personal remarks, especially those made by senior leaders. We are the only party in the country that does not operate on the basis of caste, religion, language, or region," he added. BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt said, "Harish Rawat has been a senior leader of the state, and he should refrain from making statements that divide society. If Brahmins are influential in society, does saying so mean he is undermining others? Is the Congress trying to build its organisation around one particular community? Are they now questioning the competence of their own party members from other communities by making such remarks?" "Harish Rawat's statement is highly unfortunate and irresponsible. Former Chief Minister is playing with the fire of casteism..it could burn the Congress itself. Despite being given numerous responsibilities as MLA, MP, Chief Minister, and Union Minister , Harish Rawat has failed to accept electoral defeat gracefully and is instead trying to divide society and disturb harmony," Bhatt added. Rawat's statement comes ahead of Congress restructuring the organisation for the 2027 polls. The Congress party's Sangathan Srijan (restructuring) campaign in Uttarakhand was concluded on September 30, with all observers submitting their reports to AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and state party in-charge Kumari Selja. The programme was organised on the directions of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi, and is expected to yield positive results for the party, said the state party leaders....