Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 24: Veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani felt that it was “challenging task’’ for the PDP-BJP Government to bring Jammu and Kashmir out of present morass but hoped that the two parties, in alliance with each other, will not only succeed but take Jammu and Kashmir to the new heights.
In an informal chat with top party leaders during a lunch hosted by Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Chief Executive Councilor, Dr Sonam Dawa in Leh this afternoon, Advani expressed his views on Jammu and Kashmir, Sindhu Darshan Festival, Kailash Mansarovar Yatra and several other issues with the top BJP leaders, who were present in Leh. He also shared his long association with Jammu and Kashmir dating back to the days of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Pt Prem Nath Dogra.
“It’s a historic Government in Jammu and Kashmir. At the same time, the tasks are very challenging…like bring Jammu and Kashmir out of the present crisis…then taking it to the path of development…giving equal treatment to all three regions,’’ Advani told the BJP leaders including Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh, Ladakh Affairs Minister Chering Dorjey, LAHDC Leh CEC, Dr Sonam Dawa, RSS leader Indresh Kumar and other senior leaders of the BJP from J&K and Leh.
Advani, who had reached Leh yesterday and inaugurated `Sindhu Bhawan’, will return to New Delhi tomorrow morning.
Advani spoke high of the BJP for forming the Government in Jammu and Kashmir for the first time saying it was dream of the party to rule the State and give good governance. He advised the party leaders to give effective governance to the people of the State as first time Government of the BJP should make an impact on the masses.
Recalling his strong bonds with Jammu and Kashmir and veteran leaders of RSS, Praja Parishad and the BJP, the veteran BJP leader said he was delighted to see that not only the BJP has come to power in Jammu and Kashmir but it has also won two-third majority in the LAHDC, Leh, which was also quite significant as it was the first Council of the BJP.
“I know our Government is working well. It has started doing good job,’’ he said.
Advani expressed satisfaction over presence of Buddhists, Hindus, artists from South and North and flow of tourists in Leh in the summer and hoped that this rush of tourists will continue all over the State.
Advani, who represents Ahmedabad Lok Sabha seat, was jubilant to know that Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s subsidiary, Sabarmati Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited has been chosen by the State Government for development of river Tawi and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has also been signed to this effect.
Earlier, in the morning, the 20th Sindhu Darshan Festival was celebrated today at Sindhu Ghat, Shey. Drikung Skyapgon Chhetsang Rinpoche was the chief guest on the occasion.
The guest of honours comprised Indresh Kumar- chief patron, Sindhu Darshan Utsav, Sant Sai Yudhister Lal Ji- Sadani Darbar Raipur, Kavinder Gupta, Speaker, Dr. Nirmal Singh- Deputy CM, Chering Dorjey- Ladakh Affairs and Cooperative Minister, Dr. Sonam Dawa- CEC LAHDC Leh, Thupstan Chhewang, MP Ladakh and Prem Singh Bajor, Minister of Rajasthan Government.
Advani couldn’t make it to inauguration of Sindhu Darshan Festival in the morning but attended the functions, which followed during the day.
Chhetsang Rinpoche highlighted the significance of Mount Kailash and Indus River. He said that Mount Kailash is a spiritual mountain for all the religion and it gives the message of unity and brotherhood. He added that Indus river is evident of Indus civilization and India, our country’s name is also derived from this river.
He laid emphasis on protecting mountains and rivers in the Himalayan range and he informed about Sacred Mountain Protection in which efforts are made at international level to protect Mount Kailash and Himalayan rivers as Himalayan heritage.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Nirmal Singh said that Sindhu festival depicting Sindhu culture held a significant role in projecting unity in diversity of India to the rest of the world and said that the huge gathering of pilgrims from different States of the country is a proof of success and popularity of this festival.
Dr Singh credited L K Advani for the conception of this idea and Indresh Kumar and local council for giving a practical shape to Sindhu festival and ensured that centre and J&K Government is fully determined to address the shortcomings and bridge the communication gaps in making Sindhu festival grand and successful.
He gave instances of first time celebration of Kumb mela in Shadipur at Sangam River near Mata Kheer Bhawani by present J&K Government after 75 years and Acharya Vishro-Gupt Yatra in Kashmir and informed about the changing atmosphere and thinking in Kashmir and said that J&K is moving back to the era of peace, system and brotherhood.
He added that festivals like Sindhu Darshan have become a reason for growing number of tourists in the region and urged everyone present on the occasion to contribute in the development of J&K State through such yatras, “because yatras and Sadhu Sant Parampara has contributed greatly in national integration”.
RSS leader Indresh Kumar said that Sindhu festival symbolized unity and brotherhood, a sign of respect for every caste and religion. He said that for the last 20 years this festival has been very peaceful journey ensuring social, religious and political unity and never had any kind of accident or mishap.
He stressed on the need to develop the Sindhu Ghat area and requested local administration and State Government to provide with more infrastructural facilities for the pilgrims which is expected to rise by double from next years. He made a mention of their vision of Sindhu Shiksha Abhiyan and a common temple for all the religion near Sindhu Ghat soon in future.
Chering Dorjey Lakrook credited Indresh Kumar for keeping the celebration of Sindhu festival alive and said that the purpose of this festival is to promote Sindhu pilgrimage and an effort to project unity in diversity from this far flung region of India.
A scintillating cultural program was presented on the occasion. Others present include all the ECs, Councilors, religious and social representatives. The festival was organized by Sindhu Darshan Yatra Samiti and Ladakh Phandey Tsogspa, Leh.
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