Wednesday, 13 NOVEMBER 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the Congress is spreading a rumour about the possibility of the Char Dham Yatra’s operation being shifted to out of the State. Terming this a sign of the opposition’s narrow mindedness and comical, the CM said that the State government will work towards fulfilling the previous MLA Shaila Rani Rawat’s dreams. Dhami was speaking at the Bharatiya Janata Party Anusuchit Jati Swabhiman Sammelan at Agastyamuni on Tuesday.
Targetting the Congress, he said that the opposition is crossing all limits when it comes to spreading rumours. “Any devotee undertaking the Char Dham Yatra doesn’t decide the exact destination within a day. Pilgrims discuss their plan with family members in advance. The rumour being spread by the Congress is a sign of an inferior mentality and also laughable. An attempt is being made to bring about regionalism into Sanatan and the land of Lord Kedarnath. However, the manner in which all the people united in time of disaster, they will not let such plans succeed,” the CM said.
Dhami said that those claiming to have improved the conditions in Kedarnath cannot fool the people as the public knows the reality. Following the 2013 disaster, many were affected by mismanagement and then there were scams, he said. “The Congress also spread the rumour about a shila (rock) from Kedarnath being taken to Delhi. I swear by Lord Kedarnath that I have never done anything which might affect the dignity and sanctity of Kedarnath Dham. Since the Congress does not have any concrete issue, it is playing with the sentiments of the people. During my three years in office so far, the maximum number of people undertook the Char Dham Yatra. Despite the pilgrimage to Kedarnath being lessened by 56 days and being affected by disaster this year, more than 16 lakh devotees paid their obeisance at Kedarnath. The government promptly acted after the July disaster this year and ensured all necessary assistance to the affected people. I myself and our ministers reached the affected area within 24 hours to oversee the disaster management work which saw more than 16,000 people being rescued without delay. We will all work together to build a new Kedar,” Dhami said. He further said that the government had taken concrete action against love Jihad, land Jihad and spit Jihad, also freeing about 500 acre land from encroachment. Referring to the Congress, he said that those who had encouraged land Jihad and now posing to be Sanatanis. The Congress government had facilitated the construction of Badrinath Mandir in Mumbai in 2015 and is now accusing the BJP of being like it whereas the BJP government has brought a law to ensure that replicas of the Char Dham are not built anywhere.
Union minister of State Ajay Tamta and the BJP candidate in Kedarnath Assembly bypoll Asha Nautiyal also addressed the gathering. The late MLA Shaila Rani Rawat’s daughter Aishwarya Rawat and others were also present on the occasion.
