Delhi UPA netas didn't let me rebuild Kedarnath: PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi blamed the former United Progressive Alliance government for stopping him from carrying out reconstruction of the Kedarnath shrine after the 2013 flash floods when he was chief minister of Gujarat.

Modi made a two-hour visit to Kedarnath on Friday, his secondtrip to the shrine in the last six months after the BJP came to power in the state. He announced several development projects at the site. “When the 2013 floods happened, I was chief minister of Gujarat and did not wish to encroach into any other state.

But I could not stop myself and I came here,” Modi said. “I had requested then that let the government of Gujarat handle the reconstruction work here. The then Uttrakhand chief minister and officials agreed and I announced the same to the media. But then all hell broke loose in Delhi where people became nervous thinking how Modi reached Kedarnath. Pressure was brought on then CM who then announced no help from Gujarat was needed.”


The then Congress government in the state was headed by Vijay Bahuguna, who has since joined the BJP. “But Baba (Lord Shiv) had decided that only this son of his would reconstruct Kedarnath. And this Baba’s son is now doing it. There is now a BJP government in Uttarakhand,” Modi said in his 40-minute speech at Kedarnath, saying money will not be a constraint in redeveloping the site, including widening the pedestrian route to the shrine and developing new ghats.

Modi visited Kedarnath in May when the shrine opened for the season and the trip on Friday is just ahead of its closure for the yearon Saturday.

“Pilgrim numbers had decreased after the 2013 tragedy as people were sceptical if proper infrastructure existed here,” Modi said.

Only 40,832 pilgrims visited Kedarnath in 2014. “Over 4.5 lakh pilgrims visited Kedarnath this year. Next year it will at least be 10 lakh. My visit has sent this message.”