Commencing his day-long visit to Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered prayers at the Adi Kailash peak, an abode of Lord Shiva, at the Parvati Kund in Pithoragarh.
As he offered prayers, PM Modi donned a white-coloured traditional tribal robe and was guided by local priests Virendra Kutiyal and Gopal Singh.
He also meditated in front of the holy peak in Jolingkong. He also offered prayers in front of the snow-capped mountains of Uttarakhand.
His traditional outfit was complete with a turban and ‘ranga’ (upper body garment) as he performed an ‘aarti’ at the Shiva-Parvati temple along the banks of Parvati Kund.
Following this, PM Modi will head to Jageshwar Dham, an ancient temple dedicated to lord Shiva, about 15 km away.
Meanwhile, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday took a dig at PM Modi and said his visit to Uttarakhand shows the hypocrisy of the BJP-led government.
“It is good that you are in Uttarakhand today, but your government has imposed 18% GST on the holy Ganga water itself. Not even once did I think what would be the burden on those who order Ganga water in their homes. This is the height of plunder and hypocrisy of your government,” Kharge said in a tweet.
He also interacted with locals and security personnel after he proceeded to the Gunji village, news agency PTI reported. PM Modi and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami were accorded a warm welcome there.
PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for multiple development projects worth Rs 4,200 crore in Uttarakhand, following which, he will address the public at the S S Waldia Sports Stadium in the Kumaon region.
Cultural troupes from the Kumaon region will welcome Prime Minister Modi at several points of a six-km road that has recently been renovated. PM Modi’s route will be decorated with murals and paintings.
Thereafter, the prime minister will have a lunch consisting of Kumaoni cuisines.
