LIVID NISHANK LEAVES FOR KEDARNATH BY ROAD Wednesday, 11 September 2013 | PNS | Dehradun | Highly infuriated over the State Government’s order of not allowing anyone to undertake the pilgrimage to Kedarnath shrine, former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Dr Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank left for Kedarnath on Tuesday afternoon. After terming the proposed rituals at Kedarnath shrine as an insult to ancient customs, Nishank said that government machinery is not allowing anyone to cross Ukhimath in Rudraprayag on the way to Kedarnath shrine. Addressing mediapersons at a Press conference held at the State party office in Dehradun on Tuesday, Dr Nishank announced that he would leave for Kedarnath by road along with his supporters in order to corner the State Government for restricting people from visiting the shrine. “Instead of taking the help of teerth Purohits for resuming the rites at the shrine, the Congress-led State Government has declared to hold rituals at the shrine on its own,” he lamented, adding that State Government is violating the ancient codes and norms designed for the holy shrines of the State. Dr Nishank asked the State Government how the Government machinery can perform rituals at the shrine when the Yatra has not resumed yet after witnessing the catastrophe in the month of June. After rebuffing the State Government claim that the 185 skeletons were recovered around Kedarnath shrine, Dr Nishank said that 185 villagers had died as they were unable to cope up with the adverse weather conditions in the higher parts of the State and starvation and completely ruled out that bodies turned to skeletons. Dr Nishank also demanded from the State Government to introduce effective steps for rehabilitating those villagers, who faced the brunt of the natural calamities. He also expressed his concern over the issue that the police check posts have been placed along the Char Dham Yatra route and debarring the residents to visit the Kedarnath shrine. After concerning the Congress-led State Government for its callous approach for not redressing the grievances of displaced villagers, Dr Nishank said that the State Government is yet to take concrete steps for rebuilding the damaged route ahead of Gaurikund and along the Char Dham Yatra route. Dr Nishank also demanded from the Congress-led state government for immediately take steps for issuing the White Paper on the disaster, if the State Government acted smartly and promptly for carrying the relief, rescue and rehabilitation work in the disaster affected areas of the State. He claimed that the BJP has never opposed to perform rituals in the Kedarnath shrine but urged the State Government to have the advice of Purohit before performing rituals in the shrine as they are the only authorized to declare about the timings for opening and closing of the portals of the shrine. Dr Nishank also demanded from the President of India to dissolve the Congress-led State Government and implement President’s rule in the State as the State Government has completely failed to redress the grievances of the those villagers, who faced the brunt of the natural calamities. He also said that UPA has also failed to deploy one battalion of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and sanctioning of radar and early warning system despite repeated requests from the BJP in 2010. He also cornered that State Government for allowing the black listed company for sanitation work in Kedarnath shrine and surrounding areas. Umesh Agarwal, PS Dhyani, Col (Retd) CM Nautiyal, Abhimanyu Kumar and many more activists were also present.
Posted on: Thu, 12 Sep 2013 03:37:31 +0000
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