Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat has resented the agreement the Union Government has reached with the Chinese Government during the current State visit of the Chinese president Xi Jinping about Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra via Nathu-la pass.
CM Rawat has appealed to PM Modi to reconsider it. "We are all praise for the initiative the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken to improve bilateral relations between China and India, but as far as route is concerned, the existing route to Kailash Mansarovar via Uttarakhand is an emotive matter for us. We are shocked with the traditional route passing though the State having been abandoned. What we feel is that instead of abandoning this route, it would be better to revamp the infrastructure of the route to facilitate the pilgrims to take the pilgrimage along this route." The Chief Minister said he had already written to the Prime Minister on July 17, clearing his Government's stance on the issue. .
CM Rawat further said that the route had been decided in a meeting between former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and then her Chinese counterpart. During that meeting it was decided that the traditional route would be used for the pilgrimage. "Instead of seeking the alternate route for Kailash-Mansarovar we are for increasing the number of the pilgrims in view of the emotions attached to the place of pilgrimage."
"The decision has disappointed the people of the State who are proud of the hoary heritage the State is a repository of. It seems the decision is politically motivated," the CM said.
He further said that they had no problem if the Government opens another route for trade, but Kailash- Mansarovar Yatra stands in a class by itself. The route of the pilgrimage cutting through our State has been glowingly mentioned in the scriptures. They say whosoever goes to Kailash-Mansarovar along this route will become dear to lord Shiva. Even the saints said that whosoever touches the pious water of Mansarovar will endear himself to lord Shiva.
Along this route fall Om Parvat and Kailash Parvat. Even noted philosopher Rahul Sanskritayan spoke volumes of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via Uttarakhand. Even Swami Parmanand had gone on the pilgrimage via this route, the CM said. The route is not just important for pilgrimage but also logistically important, he said, adding that the PM must consider their plea seriously.
To further buttress his point, he said Tawaghat-Gunji motor road in Pithoragarh is being re-constructed under the aegis of the BRO. Even the State Government is contributing its mite to build the road, the CM said.