Saturday, 06 November 2021 | PNS | Dehradun
Says this decade belongs to Uttarakhand which will benefit immensely from major developments
Prime Minister Narendra Modi exhorted citizens to also take their children to visit historical sites linked to India’s freedom struggle and also ancient shrines to give them a sense of the nation’s heritage. Modi said this after unveiling the statue of Adi Shankaracharya at the reconstructed Shankaracharya Samadhi in Kedarnath apart from unveiling the foundation stones for various works and inaugurating other works totaling to Rs 400 crore on Friday.
Addressing a gathering after offering special prayers and unveiling various works, Modi spoke in detail about Adi Shankaracharya, his life, works and teachings. Stating that Kedarnath offers a unique glimpse of India, he exhorted the people to visit historical sites related to India’s freedom struggle and such ancient shrines along with their children so that they are also aware of the nation’s spiritual and cultural heritage. He said that reconstruction of Kedarnath after the 2013 disaster is due to the grace of lord Shiva.
Thanking all from the top down to the labourers involved in the reconstruction, he recalled his visit to Kedarnath as the then CM of Gujarat after the 2013 disaster. He recalled that many were skeptical about the possibility of reconstruction in Kedarnath. “It is my good fortune that the vision I had for reconstruction of Kedarnath is now getting fulfilled.” He said that this decade belongs to Uttarakhand, stating that the number of people who will visit the state in this decade will be more than the number of arrivals in 100 years. He said, “Now, our nation is proudly setting big targets for itself. The nation is setting difficult deadlines to achieve these targets. When some people raise doubts, I say that such fear is now acceptable to India.”
Though PM Narendra Modi avoided political issues and refrained from targeting opposition parties in his address, the tone and tenor of his speech set the agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the forthcoming assembly elections.
The PM emphatically stated that he has changed the adage ‘ Pahad Ka Pani and Pahad Ki Jawani Pahad Ke Kaam Nahi Aate’ as development is occurring at a rapid pace in the Himalayan state and it would stop migration from the mountainous areas.
Shifting gears effortlessly between spiritualism and scoring political points in his 50 minute long speech, the PM said that the dream of the highlanders for rail service is getting realised through the Rishikesh- Karnprayag rail link and work on the all weather road is going on at full pace. He also declared that people would be able to reach Kedarnath in their car in the near future.
Governor Gurmit Singh, CM Pushkar Singh Dhami and others were also present on the occasion.
