Rahul treks to Kedarnath, feels ‘fire-like’ energy inside shirne

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Friday trekked to the Kedarnath shrine and said he was there to pay his respects to the victims of the 2013 floods in the region. Trekking 16km to reach the shrine, Gandhi said he felt a “fire-like” energy after entering the holy portals.

“I have come here to pay respects to those who lost their lives in the 2013 tragedy," Gandhi said after offering prayers at the shrine.

“The Uttarakhand government has persistently carried out reconstruction at all pilgrim centres after the June 2013 disaster. The arrival of large number of pilgrims to the ‘Char Dham Yatra’ proves that the message of safe Uttarakhand has reached far and wide. CM Harish Rawat’s model of developing helipads in the state is role model for other states. It will accelerate the exercise of timely evacuation to pilgrims stranded at different places in disaster-like situations.”

Chief Minister Harish Rawat was also present. The portals of Kedarnath temple were opened for devotees at 8:50am on Friday after six months. 

Asked what he prayed for in the temple, Gandhi said he did not ask for anything. “Usually when I go to a temple I don’t wish for anything. That is my habit, I don’t ask. But I went inside I experienced some fire-like energy,” he said

The Congress vice-president said, “A lot of people work here... they are facing a lot of difficulties and are in fear... because a tragedy had occurred here... and also the tourists who come here are facing a lot of discomfort and fear. So if I walk, then our brothers, who are here, it will be advantageous for them,” the Congress vice-president added.