‘Udhampur to offer unique religious tourism circuit’
Avtar Bhat
UDHAMPUR, July 16: Maintaining that all the projects abandoned by Congress Govern-ments in Jammu and Kashmir were completed under Modi regime, Union Minister in PMO with Independent charge of Science and Technology, Dr Jitendra Singh today lambasted the Congress party saying its leaders have never been true to their own word whether it was the abrogation of Article 370 or construction of Aparna Ashram at Mantalai of Yoga Guru, Dhirendra Brahamchari which was promised by late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a party meeting at Mantalai near here today, Dr Jitendra Singh said that former Prime Minister, Pt Jawhahar Lal Nehru on record had stated in the Parliament that Article 370 is a temporary provision and it will go with the passage of time, but his successors never kept the word of their leader and it was BJP Government led by Narendra Modi which had to abrogate this temporary Article.
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The Union Minister said the Congress did not keep up the promises made with the nation by its leaders. While citing Aparna Ashram for which land was allotted by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi out of way to Dhirendra Brahamchari at Mantalai, the Congress party abandoned this project for 35 long years after the death of Mrs Gandhi.
Dr Jitendra Singh said how can the Congress party be true to the promises made with the people when the party failed to keep the promises made by their leaders to the country.
Dr Jitendra Singh said “Unlike Congress Modi Government never prioritise the development agenda on vote politics but the main criteria for us was justice to all and appeasement to none’’.
He said “We did not initiate the development under any pressure but we have done what was basically required by the people’’. The development during our regime was done as per requirement and not under any pressure. The Mantalai Project of Dhirendra Brahamchari was lying in shambles and we brought a State of Art Wellness Centre on 80 acres of land there.”
Dr Jitendra Singh said Modi Government changed work culture in the country and ended the discrimination on basis of vote politics, regionalism etc which was the basis of Congress policy.
Earlier, while convening a review meeting with the district administration Udhampur at Mantalai, Dr Jitendra Singh said Udhampur parliamentary constituency, in particular the Udhampur sector which also includes Katra and Reasi that were part of erstwhile Udhampur district, is going to offer a unique religious tourism circuit with the integrated development through Rs 190 cr River Devika Rejuvenation Project, Rs 100 cr central Mantalai Project Mansar lake Project under central Swadesh Yojana, Sudh Mahadev and Surinsar, etc.
Referring to Mantalai project, which is the venue of today’s meeting, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the project was initially started by Late Dhirendra Brahamchari, who happened to be the Yog Guru of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and obtained the land on lease. However, midway through the project, Dhirendra Bhrahamchari suddenly died following an aircrash and since then the successive Congress Governments did not attend to it and allowed it to turn into a shambles.
However, he said, it was only after the Modi Government took over in 2014 that the project was revived nearly three decades later and now a State-of-the-Art Wellness Centre cum Tourist Resort has come up at this location. Similar is the case of river Devika which had remained unattended all these years and only after Modi took over as Prime Minister, North India’s first-ever River Rejuvenation project was approved for the renovation and beautification of River Devika, which is held in holy esteem, he added.
Elaborating further, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the holy town of Katra Vaishno Devi got its Railway Station only after the Modi Government took over in 2014 and now the entire area has been included in the national PRASAD scheme. In addition, the Inter-modal Station, the holy spot of Sudhmahadev also received attention only after 2014 and now an alternative National Highway is under construction for facilitating connectivity. While Mantalai and Mansar are already being included in the official tourist circuit, Shiv Khori is also expected to become part of it in times to come.
Dr Jitendra Singh observed with satisfaction, that in the neighbouring district of Kishtwar, the Machail Yatra lacked basic facilities but in the last nine years, toilets and mobile towers were provided enroute the yatra and in the absence of power supply, exclusive Solar Power Plant has also been provided.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency is blessed with the treasure of ancient religious tourism sites in the country and it has been possible under PM Narendra Modi that these religious tourism sites have been taken care of and developed for the first time for ease of religious pilgrimage and revival of religious tourism in the country.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency is the infrastructural marvel and best ever connected constituency in the country, and has seen tremendous development in the last nine years. The Delhi Katra Express Highway, historic Kamakhya (Assam) to Katra (Vaishno Devi) train covering a distance of more than 2,000 Km and connecting the two important destinations of religious pilgrimage and Vande Bharat Express are among the best gifts provided by PM Narendra Modi giving boost to the religious tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Jitendra Singh added.
He said, the religious tourism circuit in Udhampur Parliamentary Constituency has a very important role in the development and progress of the region as pilgrims across India have a desire to visit these religious sites. From the very first day being sworn in as the Prime Minister of India, PM Narendra Modi put forward a vision to connect places of religious interest across the country with a safe, efficient and comfortable network, he added.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said, PRASAD scheme ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual Augmentation Drive’ aims to integrate pilgrimage destinations in a prioritised, planned and sustainable manner to provide a complete religious tourism experience and it is because of this scheme of the Government that religious tourism has been revived in India, Udhampur Parliamentary constituency being the best example of it.
Dr. Singh directed district administration to speed up the work on these religious tourism sites so that the projects are completed in time.
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