Thursday, 19 September 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
The Bharatiya Janata Party has condemned the Congress’s Kedarnath Pratishtha Raksha Yatra, labelling it as a political charade aimed at promoting a specific leader.
The BJP’s suspicions about the pilgrimage being a political tool have been confirmed after revelation made by the State Congress president Karan Mahara in a recent interview, the state media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan said. He said that Mahara’s comments in the interview exposed the true nature of their Yatra, which was organised for personal political gains rather than religious purposes and had no genuine connection to the reverence of Sanatana Dharma or Baba Kedarnath. He said that the controversy took a political turn when allegations were made by a potential candidate for the Kedarnath by-elections, accusing another leader of promoting himself through the Yatra. In response, the Congress president dismissed the accusations, stating that a former legislator could only walk three kilometres during the journey, further exposing the political motives behind the event.
Chauhan asserted that while the Congress is free to organise its events, it is unacceptable to tarnish religious sanctity for personal gain. Throughout their Yatra, the Congress party continuously disrespected sacred sites, causing deep hurt to Sanatana followers. He also pointed out the timing of the Congress’s Yatra, which coincided with heavy rainfall and ongoing rescue operations at Kedarnath. He said that despite the BJP’s request to postpone the journey out of respect for the disaster-struck area, the Congress refused. Instead of engaging in relief work, the Congress postponed it after facing public backlash, he added. Chauhan said that the Congress party’s actions in disrespecting Baba Kedarnath for electoral purposes will not be forgiven by the public or by Baba Kedarnath. The Congress’ strategy of exploiting religion and culture for political gain has already cost them dearly, and this time, their misdeeds will once again result in severe consequences, he added.
