Pithoragarh: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is set to visit Adi Kailash and Om Parvat in Pithoragarh district this year for darshan. He has accepted the invitation extended by Pithoragarh Congress District President Mukesh Pant and assured that the programme will be finalized soon.
This development came during the ongoing 10-day ‘Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan’ (Organisation Building Campaign) training camp for district presidents from Uttarakhand and Haryana, currently being held in Kurukshetra. On the ninth day of the camp, Rahul Gandhi arrived at the training session, where he interacted with all district presidents and met their families.
During the interaction, Pithoragarh District President Mukesh Pant shared his nine-day training experience with Rahul Gandhi. He highlighted that Pithoragarh district, bordering China and Nepal, is emerging as a key religious tourism destination. Sacred sites like Adi Kailash and Om Parvat are rapidly developing for pilgrimage tourism. Beautiful locations such as Milam and Panchachuli are attracting visitors from across the country.
Pant personally invited Rahul Gandhi to undertake the darshan of Adi Kailash and Om Parvat, stating that he would come soon to experience the region firsthand and meet the local people to understand their glorious culture. Rahul Gandhi inquired in detail about Adi Kailash and Om Parvat from Pant and confirmed his plans to visit the area shortly.
Pant also discussed the serious issue of migration from mountainous regions with Rahul Gandhi. He explained that villages are emptying due to lack of medical facilities, limited educational opportunities, and the increasing impact of wild animals on agriculture. People are migrating to cities or other states in search of better livelihoods and quality of life.
The district president emphasized that if a Congress government is formed in Uttarakhand, these issues will be addressed on priority. Comprehensive schemes will be introduced to encourage migrated families to return to their villages and homes, reversing the trend of depopulation in the hills.
Rahul Gandhi listened attentively to the migration concerns and provided guidance to party workers on strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level. He stressed the need to confront challenges fearlessly and build a robust party structure to address local problems effectively.
Pithoragarh holds immense strategic and religious significance due to its border location. Adi Kailash, often called ‘Chhota Kailash’, is revered in Hinduism as the abode of Lord Shiva, while Om Parvat is famous for its natural formation resembling the sacred ‘Om’ symbol, visible from a distance. With access now possible through Indian territory, these sites are boosting religious and adventure tourism in the region. Rahul Gandhi’s prospective visit is expected to further highlight their spiritual and tourism importance.
The Kurukshetra training camp, part of the All India Congress Committee’s initiative, focuses on organisational revival, discipline, ideology, and future strategies. Rahul Gandhi urged district presidents to act as ‘warriors’ of the party, work with dedication, and face the challenges posed by the ruling dispensation without fear. He emphasized maintaining party discipline and strengthening the base to amplify people’s voices.
This interaction holds special significance for Uttarakhand Congress, particularly in border districts like Pithoragarh. Local leaders and workers are eagerly awaiting Rahul Gandhi’s visit, which will not only offer a spiritual pilgrimage opportunity but also draw political attention to pressing issues like migration, infrastructure deficits, and border-area development.