Dehradun/IBNS: Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and Lok Sabha MP Trivendra Singh Rawat's remark against a Dalit IAS officer Brajesh Sant on "illegal mining" has triggered a massive controversy, media reports said.

Speaking in Parliament on Friday, Rawat alleged that illegal mining was rampant in Uttarakhand.

Sant rubbished the claims saying they were "misleading".

Sant told PTI, "It is completely baseless, misleading, and untrue to say that illegal mining is happening or increasing. The biggest evidence behind this is that the revenue obtained from mining is the highest this financial year since the formation of the state, and this is the first year in which the target set by the finance department has not only been achieved but exceeded by two to two and a half hundred crores.

"We have been using new technology and techniques, and in addition to this, the task force, whether at the tehsil, district, or state level, has been working effectively. These things together have resulted in effective control over illegal mining, and the biggest proof of this is that the revenue from mining has grown rapidly..."

Now in a bid to counter Sant, Rawat passed a remark that was widely viewed as casteist.

"What to say? Lions do not hunt dogs," said Rawat, an MP from Haridwar.

The remark has triggered sharp responses from the IAS Association.

The Uttarakhand IAS Association held a meeting "to express serious concerns" over Rawat's comments.

Presided by IAS Association president Anand Vardhan, the meeting saw members passing resolutions "emphasising the need to uphold the dignity and self-respect of officers".

In a mixed response, former Uttarakhand CM and Congress leader Harish Rawat supported Rawat's position in the illegal mining issue accusing both the Centre and State for not taking any action but condemned Trivendra Singh Rawat's remark against the IAS officer.

Opposition leader Yashpal Arya has accused the government of protecting illegal mining activities.