By Arun Pratap Singh
Srinagar (Pauri), 11 Jul: The State Congress has strongly objected to laying of the foundation stone for construction of a Kedarnath Temple in Delhi. In this regard, former state president of the Congress and former president of the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee Ganesh Godiyal observed a day of silence at the Rahu Temple here, today, in protest against the decision and ‘prayed’ for grant of discretion and wisdom to the government.
During the protest, Godiyal targeted the state government and alleged that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami is playing with the sentiments of the people of Uttarakhand by laying the foundation stone for a Lord Kedarnath temple in Delhi. He questioned the need for another temple of Kedarnath, especially in Delhi. He said that the temple to be constructed in Burari in Delhi will be built with stones from the original Kedarnath temple. He alleged that the BJP Government is taking personal interest in this with some vested agenda. He asserted that Congress opposes the politics of the temple and has decided to take to the streets to demand an investigation into the matter. Godiyal claimed that by announcing the construction of a Kedarnath temple in Delhi, the government has stirred the religious sentiments of the people.
Ganesh Godiyal claimed further that five brave soldiers from Uttarakhand were martyred in the terror attack in Kathua (J&K) but the Chief Minister conveniently forgot that the pyre of the mortal remains of the martyrs was not even lit when he suddenly left for Delhi for the Bhoomi Pujan of the temple.
He also alleged that Kedarnath MLA Shaila Rani Rawat passed away, but the government did not bother about this either.
It may be recalled that, yesterday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a programme organised in Burari in Delhi, where he performed Bhoomi Pujan of a Kedarnath Temple (Delhi) and laid the foundation stone. He had also claimed that this temple will strengthen the faith of Shiva devotees and Sanatan culture.
