Congress was insecure when I had offered to help landslide victims: PM Modi in Kedarnath

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived at famous Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand.

ANI photo

Dehradun: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday arrived at Uttarakhand's Kedarnath temple in Uttarakhand where he offered prayers to Lord Shiva to whom the Kedarnath shrine is dedicated.

After the prayers, Modi inaugurated the new Kedarpuri township and announced several welfare schemes.

"I am happy to be in Kedarnath, a day after Diwali. Today, Gujaratis are celebrating the start of a New Year. I convey my greetings to everyone around the world who mark the start of Nutan Varsh," PM said in Kedarnath.

"Jan Seva is Prabhu Seva. Service to 125 cr citizens of the country true service of Baba Kedar. From this holy land of Kedarnath, I seek the blessings of Bhole Baba and pledge to devote myself fully to realising the dream of a developed India by the time we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022," he said.

Referring to the devastating 2013 Uttarakhand floods, Modi said, "The floods of 2013 had made all of us extremely sad. That time I was not the Prime Minister, I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. I came here to do all that I could for victims."

Modi added that he couldn't stop himself from serving the ailing pilgrims and people. 

"I personally looked at the architecture and development of the project. We will widen the road and also develop special provisions for purohits (priests) including digital services," said Modi, in his address to the gathering in Kedarnath.

Attacks Cong for denying his 2013 proposal to redevelop Kedarnath

"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.

"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".

In June 2013, then Chief Minister Bahuguna and the Congress party had rebuffed Modi`s offer for redevelopment of Kedarnath and his Rs 3 crore cheque, which was in addition to a Rs 2 crore his state had donated for rain disaster relief.

The Congress and other parties had criticised Modi for trying to be the "Rambo" of rescue. The Congress had alleged he was trying to communalise a natural calamity. 

"A retaining wall and ghat will be built around Mandakini for the benefit of pilgrims, where they can sit down and relax, enjoy the music of the river," he said.

Modi, however, asserted that reconstruction of Kedarpuri, with improved facilities for devotees, will be expensive but there will be no dearth of funds and called for more CSR investment from corporates. 

"We are building quality infrastructure in Kedarnath. It will be modern but the traditional ethos will be preserved. We will ensure the environment is not damaged," Modi said. He added, "Discipline is in the blood of people here in Uttarakhand. At least one person from each family is a soldier. Well being of priests will be ensured."

"The Himalayas have so much to offer- for spiritual pursuits, for the nature lover, for those interested in adventure, water sports. I invite everyone to come and explore the Himalayas," PM Modi said.

The prime minister was received by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul, who are among the 4,000 people to attend the event at the temple premises today.

#Uttarakhand: PM Narendra Modi offers prayers at Kedarnath Temple pic.twitter.com/koGvtrTfGs — ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2017

Governor Shri KK Paul and CM @tsrawatbjp welcomed the Prime Minister to Uttarakhand. PM will attend programmes in Kedarnath during his visit to the state. pic.twitter.com/T3HyMGTwB6 — PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 20, 2017

Later in the day, Modi will address a public meeting near the temple located 11,660 feet above the sea level, party sources told reporters yesterday.

The Himalayan shrine, dedicated to Shiva, will be closed beginning Saturday for six months owing to winter. 

In view of the PMs visit and Diwali, the temple has been decked up with flowers and lights, and most priests have decided not to go home to celebrate the festival.

Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the Prime Minister's visit. 

Watch: PM Modi speaking in Uttarakhand

WATCH: PM Modi speaking in Kedarnath https://t.co/MuAJl7CTWc — ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2017