Dehradun, Sept. 15 -- Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of trying to create confusion by raising issues that, he said, had already been exposed as false through fact-checks. Dhami said Congress had been left without any substantive issues and was therefore attempting to spread "lies and confusion" through programmes such as Chhatron ki Goonj (Echo of Students). He said several claims made by Rahul Gandhi had already been proven false. On the controversy surrounding Haldwani purification ritual and havan, Dhami rejected attempts to link event with caste. He said Congress had deliberately tried to create confusion and divide society by presenting ritual as a caste-related issue. According to Dhami, the purification ritual and havan were conducted in protest against "Jihadi" slogans and had nothing to do with casteism. He also pointed out that those who conducted the event themselves belonged to the Scheduled Caste community. "This has exposed the narrative being promoted by Congress," he said. On the Uttarakhand Investment and Infrastructure Development Board (UIIDB), Dhami said the organisation had been constituted to attract investment, accelerate economic activity and create employment opportunities in the state. He alleged that Congress was unhappy with the investment coming into Uttarakhand and employment opportunities being generated for youth. Dhami also said his government had reclaimed approximately 13,000 acres of government land from encroachment. He alleged that Congress was troubled by the action and questioned the party's silence over encroachment in Banbhulpura. "The land of Devbhoomi is not mere green pasture where anyone can come, graze and leave. Our government will continue to work with firm resolve to protect every single inch of Uttarakhand's land and preserve the original character of Devbhoomi," Dhami said. Taking another swipe at the Congress leadership, Dhami compared its leaders to a perpetually disgruntled uncle (naraz phupha) at a family gathering. He said Congress leaders found fault with every positive initiative, whether related to development, investment or employment. He also accused the Congress leaders of having long relied on dynastic politics and appeasement, saying they were unable to appreciate the government's emphasis on transparency, good governance and development. Dhami said that unlike the Congress era, when he alleged that land was "sold off", the system under his government was transparent. He reiterated that more than 13,000 acres of government land had been cleared of encroachments. Congress state media spokesperson Garima Dasuni hit back at the CM, saying Dhami should focus on accounting for his government's record rather than attacking the opposition. "Dhami was not appointed chief minister merely to keep attacking the opposition. Right now, Sir, it is your government that is in the dock," Dasuni said, demanding an account of the last nine and a half years on issues including recruitment scams, human-wildlife conflict, crimes against women, unemployment, inflation and migration. She also raised allegations concerning the theft of gold and donations from temples and questioned why Dhami was focusing on the Congress and the Gandhi family instead of addressing these issues....