Cong begins second phase of its Kedarnath Padyatra
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 12 Sep: Congress today launched the second phase of its Kedarnath Dham Padyatra from Sitapur near Guptkashi under the leadership of Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) Chief Karan Mahara, against the alleged corruption related to the Kedarnath Dham. On this occasion, the national flag was hoisted by Seva Dal workers and the national anthem was played.
Speaking on the occasion, PCC Chief Mahara accused the BJP State Government of tampering with the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga and hurting the feelings of those who believed in Sanatan Dharma.
After the flag hoisting in the presence of All India Congress Committee (AICC) Secretary and Co-in-charge of the party affairs in Uttarakhand, Surendra Sharma, the party launched its onward Kedarnath Dham Pratishtha Raksha Yatra amid chants of ‘Kedar Baba ki jai’. State Congress President Karan Mahara while inaugurating the second phase of the Yatra from Sitapur asserted that no matter what happens, this Yatra will not stop now. He claimed that the morale of the Congress workers is high. He alleged that the way the BJP government has worked to divide Kedarnath, has hurt the people who believe in Sanatan Dharma. He also claimed that disrespecting Kedar Baba will cost BJP a lot.
Mahara alleged that the BJP government is adopting divisive tactics to divert the attention of the people to hide its failures. Development work has come to a standstill and the government’s failures are being exposed due to rains. The government is trying to escape from the blame. He said that the condition of the roads has become very pathetic. People are becoming victims of accidents every day due to bad roads. He alleged that the government is not paying attention to this. He added that crores of rupees have been spent on the smart city project in the capital, but the roads remain filled with water in the monsoon due to which people are facing a lot of difficulties.
State Congress Vice President, Organisation, Mathura Dutt Joshi claimed that the Padyatra is aimed at protesting against the government for tampering with the Kedarnath Jyotirlinga. He claimed that by taking the Kedarnath stone to New Delhi, centuries-old Vedic and Sanatani traditions were violated by establishing a Jyotirlinga in the presence of the Chief Minister in the name of a temple, in Delhi. He reminded that the Kedarnath Pratishtha Raksha Yatra had been organised from Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar till Kedarnath, but it was stopped at Sitapur due to the natural calamity on the Yatra route due to heavy rains. It has now resumed and will culminate at Kedarnath.
Joshi added that, after resting tonight, the yatra would conclude tomorrow after Jalabhishek and Puja Archana at Kedarnath. They would meet with the Teerth Purohits there and also address the media there. On this occasion, National Secretary and State Congress Committee Co-in-charge Surendra Sharma, MLA Vikram Singh Negi, former MLA Ranjit Rawat, Lalit Farswan, Seva Dal Chief Hema Purohit, State General Secretary Mahendra Singh Negi, Pradeep Thapliyal, Spokesperson Sheeshpal Singh Bisht, PCC Member Yatra Coordinator Rajpal Bisht, Jayendra Ramola, Godavari Thapa, Piya Thapa and Abhinav Thapar were among those present at Sitapur.
