Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that Ganga was a symbol of purity and it’s everyone’s duty to maintain the cleanliness of the river through its length and breadth.
Addressing a gathering at the Parmarth Niketan Rishikesh on Sunday the Union Minister said the entire State had suffered a severe jolt due to the recent disaster and informed that he had personally surveyed the areas of Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath and reviewed the damage. Shinde said the Prime Minister has sanctioned aid of Rs 1000 crore for reconstruction and efforts were being made to revive the real identity of Uttarakhand.
Shinde also gave his approval to connect border areas of Uttarakhand through roads by building roads till Tanakpur Jauljivi. He said to ensure purity of the Ganga River and to conserve environment of Himalaya our Shankaracharyas and saints were working seriously. Following on their request Government has also stopped work on projects such as lohari Nagpala.
He asked the representatives from several countries attending the yoga camp from all over the world to take on the role of master trainers and propagate Yoga in their countries. He appreciated the efforts made by Swami Chidanand Sarawati Muni in ‘CleanGanga Drive’. Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Harish Rawat said that religious leaders of the State are Uttarakhand’s brand ambassadors. He stated that river Ganga gave us a message of humanity and secularism. The river was a link between several cultures and thus we should respect this holy river.
The Chief Minister said that he personally would walk on the banks of the rivers of the State and appeal to all to maintain purity of these rivers. “We have witnessed devastation due to fury of Ganga river. As we know that our religious places are settled along with Ganga and Yamuna river. Millions of people have deep respect on Ganga,” said Rawant and reiterated that State Government would do everything to revive the state.
Swami Chidanand redefined India as land of peace instead of piece of land. He spoke about the importance of international peace, love, brotherhood and unit. A magazine on International Yoga festival was also released.