Uttarakhand Congress to hold protest seeking ‘Darshan’ of holi Kailash peak for locals as well
Listen to this articleUttarakhand Congress to hold protest seeking ‘Darshan’ of holi Kailash peak for locals as well
B.D.Kasniyal
Pithoragarh, Oct 13
Seeking opening of Kailash Darshan from old Lipulekh pass for locals as well, Uttarakhand Congress committee will stage a dharna at Old Lipulekh pass in Vyans valley on October 15.
State Congress president Karan Mahra and Dharchula MLA Harish Dhami, will lead the five hour long dharna of over 150 congressmen at old Lipulekh pass.
Kailash Darshan from Indian territory of old Lipulekh pass was started by Uttarakhand tourism department from last week after government of India approved the programme in the first week of September this year.
“While the rich pilgrims taking helicopters sortie by spending huge money under a pilot programme organised by Uttarakhand tourism department, is being allowed to have ‘Darshan’ of Holi Kailash peak from old Lipulekh pass, but the local population who have been worshiping the Kailash peak since centuries are not being allowed to have ‘Darshan’ of the sacred peak,” Congress vice-president Mathura Datt Joshi said.
The Uttarakhand Congress vice president charged that the new initiative by state government to have ‘Darshan’ of holi Kailash peak through helicopter services will hit the livelihood of locals including those from Vyans valley who are dependent upon tourists. “We also demand extension of inner line from Chiyyalekh to Gunji to get more tourists visit Vyans valley to create more jobs for locals,” said Joshi
Dharchula Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Manjit Singh said that the old Lipulekh pass region is under the control of army and for any such permission Army will have to be approached, ” Presently, any one having inner line permit can go only up to Nabhidhang and beyond that it is army that can give permission,” said the SDM. However, the Dharchula SDM said that he is consulting his senior officer in this regard.
The Congress leaders have said that they want the pilgrims coming for old Kailash view to be brought to Pithoragarh town so that traders of the town also get benefits of such tourism initiative.”From Pithoragarh the pilgrims should be taken by private vehicles to Dharchula, Gunji and old Lipulekh pass to create more livelihood opportunities for local youths of Vyans and Darma valleys youths enroute.”The government by giving permission of ‘Heli Darshan’ would hit the local jobs and would be injustice to local youths of Vyans and Darma valleys as well as Pithoràgarh and Dharchula towns,” said Mathura Dutt Joshi.
