Hindustan Times (Amritsar)

PM VISITS KEDARNATH AHEAD OF WINTER

- Anupam Trivedi letters@hindustant­imes.com

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Kedarnath on Friday where he laid the foundation for five projects worth ₹150 crore.

DEHRADUN: Prime Minister Na rend ra Mo di made a disguised attack on Congress on Friday for not allowing his Gujarat government in 2013 to help in the reconstruc­tion of Kedarnath temple town, which was devastated due to flash floods in the summer.

Modi visited the shrine a day before it closes for the winter — his second visit in six months — and laid the foundation for five projects worth ₹150 crore.

He also did the‘ Rud ra bhisekh’ ritual before addressing a gathering where he thanked people for electing the Bharatiya Janata Party( B JP) in the assembly polls held earlier this year.

“As a chief minister of Gujarat Ivisited Uttarak hand in 2013 and offered to handle reconstruc­tion works… Then CM and official agreed on my proposal but the government at the Centre (the Congress-led UPA government) was not okay with it. The state government bowed to the pressure,” Modi said in a 35-minute address, without naming the Opposition party in his speech.

The works he inaugurate­d include constructi­on of residence for the local priests and an Adi Shankarach­arya museum.

The Congress accused Mo di of being “arrogant” over his remarks, saying he has disrespect­ed the people of Uttarakhan­d. “By visiting Kedarnath today (Friday), Modiji has not only disrespect­ed the people of Uttarak hand but also showed his arrogance,” Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said here in a video message.

“After the 2013 disaster, is it only Modiji who is capable of redevelop in gUttarakh and? Was the work done by the then state government, people and the devotees of Lord Shiva a waste ?” Surjew ala asked. He said “when the ruler turns arrogant then his downfall is very close”. He urged Modito “maintain some humility at the door of Lord Shiva”.

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PTI
 ??  ?? Narendra Modi at Kedarnath in Uttarakhan­d on Friday.
Narendra Modi at Kedarnath in Uttarakhan­d on Friday.

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