Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Kedarnath on Friday, a day before the gates of the Himalayan shrine close for the winters. The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stones for a slew of reconstruction projects in Kedarpuri, including renovation of Adi Guru Shankaracharya’s tomb which was devastated in the catastrophic flash floods of 2013. Modi is also likely to address a public meeting near the famed temple located around 11,660 feet above the sea level, party sources said. [caption id=“attachment_4158649” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PTI[/caption] Security has been tightened around the Jollygrant airport where the prime minister is likely to arrive around 8.30 am before leaving for Kedarnath, DIG Garhwal Range Pushpak Jyoti said. He will be welcomed at the airport by Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and other officials before he heads for the Himalayan shrine, the officer said. Modi is scheduled to spend around two hours laying the foundation stones of a series of reconstruction projects, he said. Elaborate security arrangements have also been made at Kedarnath in view of the prime minister’s visit, he added. In view of the PM’s visit and Diwali, the temple has been decked up with flowers and lights, and most priests have decided not to go home to celebrate the festival. The chief minister and the governor will accompany Modi to the Himalayan temple which is scheduled to close for the winters at 8 am on Saturday. This is the second visit of the prime minister to the shrine this season. He had visited it on 3 May when its gates had been reopened after the winter break. With inputs from PTI
Narendra Modi in Kedarnath highlights: Building toilets as important as reconstruction projects in Kedarnath, says PM
Narendra Modi is visiting Kedarnath on Friday, a day before its gates close for the winters. He is likely to address a public meeting there as well.
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Modi finishes talking
PM Modi concludes his address in Kedarnath by saying 'Jai Jai Baba Bhole' LIVE: https://t.co/C5v7pYoibu pic.twitter.com/SjBFiR3iCu
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 20, 2017
Modi talks of the importance of toilets
Taking the example of Uttar Pradesh where the government has been working to build toilets and has renamed them to ‘izzatghars’ (place of respect), Modi highlights the importance of toilets. He adds that he gives the same importance to toilet-building for the poor as he gives to the reconstruction projects in Kedarnath.
Modi asks for productive competition between the hilly states
Modi asks for friendly competition between the hilly states to get the most tourism and to invite development.
Modi praises the people of Uttarakhand
Discipline is in the blood of people here in #Uttarakhand ,atleast one person from each family is a soldier: PM Modi in Kedarnath
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2017
PM seeks to give back to the mountains
Modi said that he wants to turn around the old saying which says that a mountain’s water and youth are never used by the mountain itself. By promoting adventure tourism, hydroelectricity and water sports, he wants to make sure that a mountain’s water and youth benefit it as well.
Modi believes 10 lakh tourists will visit Kedarnath in 2018
मुझे पूरा विश्वास है कि अगले वर्ष 10 लाख यात्री केदारनाथ आएंगे: प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी https://t.co/RMh5WQ1WMN
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 20, 2017
Modi invites “adventurists” and herbal medicine enthusiasts
The PM said that the Himalayas welcome people with interests like adventure and herbal medicines to come and experience the mountains. He also cited the example of Sikkim which attracts tourists numbering almost twice its population.
Asks for investments for Kedarnath modernisation under CSR
Modi says all environmental norms will be followed while embarking on the reconstuction projects. He asks private companies to pitch in under CSR provisions.
Modi wants to make Kedarnath an ‘ideal pilgrimage’ location
But now through the development we are doing in Kedarnath, we want to show how an ideal 'Tirth Kshetra' should be: PM Modi
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2017
Modi promises to develop Kedarnath with facilities for priests
Modi promised three-storey houses for priests. One floor for devotees, one for the priest themselves, and one for their guests. 24 hour electricity and water will be provided. He also promised to increase the width of the road and provide all modern facilites to residents.
Modi recalls the 2013 floods, says he did all he could as Gujarat chief minister
The floods of 2013 had made all of us extremely sad. That time I was not the Prime Minister, I was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. I came here to do all that I could for victims: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 20, 2017
Modi pays homage to those who died in the landslides
#BREAKING | I want to pay homage to those who died in landslide: PM Modi in his Kedarnath address LIVE: https://t.co/Nr4TFMc7XT pic.twitter.com/MedGns2ufZ
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 20, 2017
“From this holy land of Kedarnath, I seek the blessings of Bhole Baba”, says Modi
Jan Seva is Prabhu Seva. From this holy land of Kedarnath, I seek the blessings of Bhole Baba and pledge to devote myself fully to realising the dream of a developed India by the time we mark 75 years of freedom in 2022: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 20, 2017
Modi says that Lord Shiva wants him to serve 125 crore Indians
#BREAKING | I'm happy to be in Kedarnath, Lord Shiva wanted me to serve 125 crore Indians: PM Modi LIVE: https://t.co/Nr4TFMc7XT
— News18 (@CNNnews18) October 20, 2017
Modi starts speaking at the gathering
Modi started off with chants of “Jai Jai Kedar” and “Jai Jai Baba Bhole”. He then wished everyone on Diwali and said that the Gods have called him back to Kedarnath again.
Modi inaugurated many reconstuction projects
#Uttarakhand: PM Narendra Modi inaugurated various development projects in Kedarnath pic.twitter.com/Sx2MbVFxMX
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2017
Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat speaks
Rawat welcomed the Prime Minister and thanks everyone for gathering to listen in just a day after Diwali.
RECAP: Narendra Modi celebrates Diwali with troops at Gurez sector in Jammu and Kashmir
Narendra Modi on Thursday celebrated Diwali with troops posted along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gurez Sector and lauded the soldiers for their sacrifice saying he considers them his family.
In an unannounced visit, Modi arrived at Gurez on Thursday morning to celebrate Diwali with the army and BSF soldiers posted along the Line of Control (LoC), officials said. He spent two hours with the soldiers in Gurez valley, which is shouting distance of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and has witnessed many gunfights with infiltrating militants in the past 27 years.
Modi offers prayers at Kedarnath shrine
#Uttarakhand: PM Narendra Modi offers prayers at Kedarnath Temple pic.twitter.com/koGvtrTfGs
— ANI (@ANI) October 20, 2017
More than 5,000 have gathered to listen to Modi
Times Now has reported that over 5,000 people are at the venue to listen to the Prime Minister. However, most of these are BJP workers.


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