Successive State Governments in Uttarakhand have faced flak for different reasons, but the present Congress led Government has the dubious distinction of protracted failure to perform in a case which had elicited international attention and funds from across the nation.
Three months after disaster struck Kedarnath and other parts of Uttarakhand, with thousands feared dead, all that the State Government has been able to do is resume prayers in Kedarnath in a manner which has displeased the public which has not benefitted at all from this measure.
Though some relief works have been executed and some of the damage caused by the disaster has also been repaired, those who faced the real brunt of the disaster continue to suffer due to inefficiency of the Government machinery. Political analysts point out that since assuming charge, Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has been busy tackling Opposition from within the party and has failed to provide effective leadership needed in times of crises that the State is facing.
The BJP and other Opposition parties have criticised the State Government for its post-disaster performance. However, even some Congress leaders have expressed misgivings at the manner in which the prayers in Kedarnath were resumed.
Observers say that the resumption of prayers in Kedarnath appears to be aimed at helping improve the image of the Congress which has taken a severe denting due to the handling of the disaster scenario. When the prayers were resumed on September 11, only some elected public representatives, Government officials and a limited number of persons with special permits were allowed to reach the shrine apart from the minimal number of priests and purohits needed for the ceremonies.
This has angered the locals who not only lived in the region till the disaster destroyed their homes, but also play a vital role in tradition as it is the locals who carry the ceremonial idol of the lord in a palanquin to and from the shrine during the time of closure and re-opening of its portals.
Former Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, who also visited Kedarnath on September 11, has already called for the resignation of the State government and imposition of President’s rule in Uttarakhand citing failure of the government. Irrespective of political allegiance, there are many in the State who are wondering why, three months after the disaster, the State has failed to clear Kedarnath of the debris and dead bodies which eye witnesses state are still strewn around this holy place.
Instead of working to clear the debris and extract the bodies, the government simply cleared some space, covered the depressing sights of human remains with walls of fabric and sprinkled chemicals to suppress the stench in the area.
According to Vimal Bhai of Matu Jansangathan, that has been raising issues related to the problems faced by the people due to disaster and unplanned development, “Sending
pilgrims to Kedarnath by helicopter will do nothing to support the local economy. Regular worship in this shrine is a major source of income for the locals employed in various tasks related to the pilgrimage. It is more important to feed the people and make them independent in stead of resuming worship at Kedarnath in the manner exhibited by the government. How long will the disaster affected people of Uttarakhand continue to depend on donations and relief materialsIJ” Political analysts point out that the Congress-led State Government was keen on resuming worship in Kedarnath to prevent the Opposition from using this issue against the Congress. However, the manner in which this was done seems to have done more damage to the image of the party.