Farmers Movement Archive

Cong restored Kedarnath’s lost glory: Harish Rawat

Dehradun: Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former CM Harish Rawat said Congress government had carried out large-scale reconstruction and developmental works at Kedarnath and now “some people are happy in meditating in caves built by us”. Rawat went on to say that it was the Congress that restoed the lost glory of Kedarnath after the June 2013 disaster. “I was made the CM in 2014 and still remember Rahul Gandhi telling me to see that the works at Kedarnath should be completed at the earliest and also ensure that pilgrims felt safe and the yatra resumed as soon as possible,” said Rawat. “It was an outcome of the works done by Congress government that the yatra resumed and devotees in large numbers came for the Kedarnath yatra. We created an environment of safety. Rahul Gandhi himself trekked to Kedarnath to send out a strong message across the country.” The former CM pointed out that on the lines of the protest against the farm laws, Uttarakhand, too, witnessed an unprecedented protest against the Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board. “Following intense protests by the priests, BJP government was forced to repeal the law,” he said. Bringing up the rising inflation issue, the former CM said, “Due to the anti-people policies of government, men are suffering due to price rise and kitchen stocks are at the brink.” Assuring the huge turnout at the Parade ground of a corruption-free government if voted to power, Harish Rawat said, “We will see that people are given employment and tourism prospers in the state.” Leader of Opposition Pritam Singh said, “The state is going through a tough phase and people have high expectations from Rahul Gandhi. Farmers are depressed and disappointed. People sitting in power had promised to waive farm loans, but they failed to deliver on the promise. Even as we stand on the threshold of election, the youth are still unemployed.” Singh said that the Congress has stood with the farmers and the youth. “The government is being run by the land, mining and liquor mafias. Government has proved a failure in handling Covid-19 situation and the corruption has been rampant. If voted to power, we will appoint Lokayukta in the state,” said Singh.

The Times of India

2021-12-17

Dehradun