It was the then central government of Congress that denied me the opportunity to resurrect destroyed Kedarnath

When I offered my services as the chief minister of Gujarat in the aftermath of the most devastating Kedarnath disaster to resurrect the historic Kedarnath Shrine ready to bear the entire expenses, I was allowed to do so by the then government of the Congress in the state and I felt highly blessed thinking that Baba Kedar has given me a privileged opportunity to serve him. I came out of the meeting with the then CM of the state blissfully and disclosed my intentions of resurrecting the damaged Kedarnath Temple and its precincts to the media present there.

Next day the newspapers were full of news mentioning that Gujarat CM will look after the entire resurrection and rehabilitation work of Kedarnath. The then central government of Congress got worried as now Modi will take the entire credit of this job and instructed the then chief minister Vijay Bahuguna, now in BJP, not to let Modi do this job. Hence a new statement appeared in news channels that the Congress governments are capable enough to do the needful n therefore there is no need for Modi to intervene in another state’s internal affair.

But see, Bhole Baba has ultimately showered his pivotal blessings on us and today BJP is in power at the centre as well as in Uttarakhand by the grace of all of you. Prime minister Narendra Modi made this disclosure today while addressing the party volunteers, pilgrims and the local residents at Kedarnath Dham where he was invited to seek Lord Kedar’s blessings on the closing of Kedarnath temple in view of the incoming winters’ when the whole temple and the valley is engulfed in snow. Last year prime minister Modi had come here on the ocassion of the opening of the Temple.

Pronouncing himself to be the ardent deciple of Lord Shiva, PM Modi said that the centre and state government are now launching an over ambitious project worth several crores for the over all facelifting of the damaged Kedarnath Shrine precincts during the ecological catastrophe of 2013. He revealed the plans for cinstruction of wider roads, well fecilitated houses for the pilgrims and purohits and hi tech lightening arrangements on 24×7 basis amid applauds from.the crowd. Addressing the audience in extempore hindi Modi pledged to rehabilitate each and every victim and family of the 2013 disaster and invited corporates under CSR to resurrect Kedarnath Dham with the latest technology and facilities in collaboration of the UK state government. Conveying his heartfelt tributes to all those died in this tragic catastrophe Prime minister Modi appealed one and all to protect the ecology of this Himalayan state by carrying out eco friendly development but not uttered a single word about the 36 thousand trees that will fall during the development and construction of the over ambitious all weather roads project in Uttarakhand with a total cost of Rs 12000 crores, inaugurated by him few minths ago in Dehradun.

He paid his respects to the people of Uttarakhand whose every 2nd family has a son or husband in Indian Army fighting the enemies valiantly on our porous borders and sacrificing their precious line of duty. He lauded the the succesful efforts of the UK government of completing its set target of constructing toilets and making Uttarakhand a self sufficed state with indoor toilets. He promised of fulfilling his pre election pledge of providing light connection in every house of the poor in Uttarakhand andother states and laudedhis government’s effort of delivering several crores free gas connections to the poor including in Uttarakhand to discourage deforestation and protect environment.

He thanked the Uttarakhand government for extending him the courtsey to visit Kedarnath and seek Bhole baba’s blessings.The governor of Uttarakhand Dr. K KPaul, the Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat ministers Prakash Pant and Dhan Singh Rawat were on the dias, alongwith with the prime minister.

SUNIL NEGI