RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat during the Shradhanjali Sabha to mark the Third anniversary of flash floods at Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat during the Shradhanjali Sabha to mark the Third anniversary of flash floods at Kedarnath in Uttarakhand, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)
At an event to commemorate three years of the Uttarakhand tragedy, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday said development policies should also include traditional knowledge, expertise of the past and “maryada (limits)”.
Mr Bhagwat said while development is important but it should be within limits.
Former Uttarakhand chief minister and BJP’s Hardwar MP Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank” demanded a separate development policy for the region while reminding that if “Himalaya gets disturbed, the entire country could face the consequence”. He also recalled how Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was then the Gujarat chief minister, had offered his government’s help to the Uttarakhand government.
The BJP’s Buxar MP, Ashwini Choubey, whose own family members were killed in the devastating flash floods and who had organised this event, demanded a whitepaper on how the Uttarakhand government utilised the fund and also list of people who have been given the compensation. Addressing the gathering, Mr Bhagwat said development should be done keeping in mind the importance of local traditions.
“Development of man is important and should take place, but maryada should be kept in mind....After Uttarakhand’s tragedy, policies should be framed while keeping in mind the limits and while accepting the traditional knowledge and expertise of the past. There should be maryada everywhere,” said Mr Bhagwat.
The RSS chief said there should be a coordination between ‘maryada’, science and traditional knowledge and called for viewing development with a new perspective.
“This new perspective is being felt, but the traditional view of Bharat should be kept in mind,” he said.
Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman said Uttarakhand is a “special land” as it is “Devbhoomi” as well as a place for spiritual recharging and it should not be turned into just a tourist destination. BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi said there should be a synergy between development and environment in the region.
Environment minister Prakash Javadekar informed that the government is working on a comprehensive policy focussed on the Himalayan region and how eight countries area so working together to preserve and conserve the Himalayan region.
