Pithoragarh administration deny permission for Congress dharna at Lipulekh pass on Indo-China border
Pithoragarh administration deny permission for Congress dharna at Lipulekh pass on Indo-China border
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Oct 14
Keeping in view the proposed protest dharna by Uttarakhand Congress Committee to seek permission for ‘darshan’ of Kailash peak situated in Tibet from old Lipulekh pass for the locals, Pithoragarh district would not allow anyone to hold political programmes near the Indo-China border.
Dharchula Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manjit singh has said that no inner line passes have been given to any person who wants to enter border region with the intention of staging political programmes there.”We are initiating talks with Congress leaders to persuade them to hand over their demand memorandum to me at Dharchula. We are also in contact with our higher officials to obtain instruction from them to deal with the situation. Presently, we are under orders not to give inner line permits for political programmes for the sensitive border region,” said the SDM.
However ,on the other hand Uttarakhand Congress President karan mahra who reached Pithoragarh said that by denying permission to locals to view holy Kailash peaks from Old Lipulekh pass, Uttarakhand government is creating discontentment amongst the border people of Vyans and Darma valley. Karan Mahra, was on way to old Lipulekh pass in Vyans valley for the proposed dharna of Congress party.
“The border region of Vyans valley, where the old Lipulekh lekh pass is situated, is highly sensitive region from security point of view and if locals are denied their rights to worship their own deities, it will create discontentment amongst them and the state government is exactly doing that ,” charged Mahra.
The Uttarakhand Congress committee has decided to stage a dharna near old Lipulekh pass to attract state governments attention towards demand of local population to allow them ‘Darshan’ of Kailash peak from old Lipulekh pass.” Lord Shiva is worshiped by locals from centuries. He is their god before outside world knew about him,” said the state Congress president.
The issue came up following Uttarakhand government starting a Kailash view programme recently in which devotees from across the country are facilitated to Gunji base camp by helicopters from Pithoragarh and then taken to old Lipulekh pass by vehicles for ‘Darshan’ of Kailash peaks in Tibet which is visible from 17500 feet high old Lipulekh pass situated in Indian territory.
