Rudraprayag (Uttarakhand) [India], June 25 (ANI): The District Congress Committee, Rudraprayag, has submitted a memorandum to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami through the District Magistrate, expressing concern over the recent incidents in Karnaprayag and Nagarasu.
Congress leaders have objected to the transfer of the investigation into the dispute between a group of Nihang Sikhs and local youths in Karnaprayag to Haridwar district, alleging that the move amounts to mental harassment of the local youth. The party has demanded that the investigation remain with the Chamoli Police.
Regarding the Nagarasu Gurdwara incident, Congress alleged that those accused of attempting to take control of the gurdwara, engaging in stone-pelting, and allegedly holding individuals associated with the gurdwara hostage should face strict legal action.
The party also expressed concern that the temporary suspension of Char Dham Yatra registrations despite favourable weather conditions, along with the incidents in Karnaprayag and Nagarasu, has adversely affected the image of the Char Dham Yatra, particularly the Kedarnath and Badrinath pilgrimages.
Congress accused the government and police of failing to effectively curb anti-social elements and individuals travelling with weapons along the pilgrimage routes.
Additionally, Congress has demanded that land be allocated for the ancient Laxman Temple. The party has also called for an impartial investigation into incidents and any possible conspiracies that may have disrupted the pilgrimage during its peak season.
Former Kedarnath MLA Manoj Rawat spoke exclusively to ANI on the issue, highlighting that there are three demands in the memorandum.
Speaking on the first demand, he said, “The state government has not registered any case, nor has any arrest been made against these ‘terrorists’. Instead, they were welcomed with garlands and flowers, and they were kept in ‘police protection’, the state protected them up to its border. When this can happen to them, the state government should explain why the local police in Karnprayag handed over the investigation of these local youths to Haridwar.”
He noted that the memorandum also demands a case to be registered against the accused individuals, followed by arrest.
“Our second demand is that regarding the Nagrasu incident, the acts these terrorists have committed, a case should be registered against them under the relevant sections according to their acts, and they should be arrested as soon as possible. Along with the arrest, strict laws, the laws available in the country for preventing terrorism, should be applied, and they should be sent to jail,” he said.
He underlined that the party is not against the Sikh community or the gurudwaras but against the institutions which have been patronised by the government,
“The third demand is that we are not in opposition to the Gurudwaras or the Sikh community, and I want to remind you that the best eulogy for the ‘Maa’ was written by Guru Gobind Singh,” he said.
“Regarding the local interests, some institutions have been patronised by the governments,” he added.
Further, he recounted the knocking down of the Govindghat police station. He recalled when Nityanand Swami’s government was formed, some government officials took money and handed over the police station to an institution.
“I can give an example of what the Uttarakhand Police will do about these terrorists! There was a Uttarakhand Police station in Govindghat, and as soon as the state was formed, during Nityanand Swami’s government, some state government officials took money and handed that police station over to an institution. In the history of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, there has never been any such incident where a police station was broken into, but the police station in Govindghat was broken into and handed over to an institution. From that day, the spirits of some people have risen,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Nihang Sikhs had been staying on the fourth floor and rooftop of the Nagarasu Gurdwara since June 20. During this period, police and administrative officials remained in constant contact with them, while efforts to resolve the situation through dialogue continued. (ANI)
Related reading
