Former Union minister for Haridwar as capital

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, May 5

The issue of the permanent capital of Uttarakhand has got a twist. Former Union Minister of State for Home in the previous NDA government Swami Chinmayanand Saraswati has demanded Haridwar to be made permanent capital.

Dehradun is the interim capital of the state while statehood agitators and local residents have been demanding Gairsain in Chamoli district to be made permanent capital. The construction of Assembly buildings is currently going on at both Dehradun and Gairsain. The issue has remained unresolved since the creation of the state on November 9, 2000.

Swami Chinmayanand Saraswati today pressed for Haridwar as the ideal place to be the permanent capital of the state. While speaking with mediapersons he cited various reasons for Haridwar being the best place to be permanent capital.

“Haridwar is an ancient world famous pilgrim and spiritual place where Maha Kumbh, Ardh Kumbh and biannual Kanwar pilgrimage are held on the banks of the Ganga. It is also the gateway to the Char Dham pilgrimage of the revered shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. As Uttarakhand is called the land of God (Devbhoomi), it will be appropriate to have such an important pilgrimage place as permanent capital. It is also known as the city of Lord Shiva, as Kankhal was the kingdom of King Daksh, father of Goddess Parvati (Sati),” said Swami Chinmayanand, a three-time parliamentarian.

He added easy accessibility of Haridwar through railways, bus, and air also strengthened its case for the permanent capital status. He said Haridwar is also easy accessible to people of Kumaon and some parts of Garhwal.

Chinmayanand said Haridwar was speedily becoming an industrial hub where more than 125 renowned companies were currently operating at SIDCUL. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD) opposed Swami Chinmayanand’s views saying that it was the aspiration of the statehood agitators and those who laid down their lives during the struggle for the separate state of Uttarakhand that Gairsain be made the capital of the state.

Veteran UKD leader Uday Ram Semwal said Gairsain is the ideal place to be the capital owing to its proximity to both Garhwal and Kumaon divisions.