Modi attacks Congress on Kedarnath

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a visit to the revered shrine of Kedarnath, yesterday attacked the Congress party for rejecting his proposal in June 2013 when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat for redevelopment of the Uttarakhand shrine damaged in the massive flash floods.

Addressing a public meeting after offering prayers at Kedarnath, Modi also said the BJP is trying to develop the Himalayan shrine into an ideal pilgrim centre with quality infrastructure.

Referring to the devastating 2013 flash floods in the state, Modi said he as Chief Minister of Gujarat had visited Uttarakhand to offer help. “I came here to do all that I could for the victims ... I had met the then Chief Minister (Vijay Bahuguna) and the state government officials and offered that Gujarat would redevelop Kedarnath. During the meeting they agreed. And I announced it outside in the media.

News on TV

“But when the news was flashed on television, and it reached Delhi, the people there (UPA government) panicked and within hours the state government was pressurised to announce that it will redevelop Kedarnath itself,” Modi alleged.

Modi said after the BJP government came to power in Uttarakhand earlier this year “I understood that the work of Kedaranath redevelopment will be done by us”.

The Congress yesterday accused Modi of being “arrogant” over his remarks, saying he has disrespected the people of Uttarakhand.