"If you see soldiers anywhere on Yatra route, salute them": Uttarakhand CM Dhami

Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) [India], May 22 (ANI): In a sharp response to the people criticising Operation Sindoor, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami urged the people to offer respect and salute Army personnel while on their way to the Char Dham Yatra and Hemkund Sahib
Chief Minister Dhami highlighted that over 11 lakh devotees have participated in the Char Dham Yatra so far. He shared this milestone during the flag-off ceremony of the first group of pilgrims embarking on the Hemkund Sahib Yatra from Rishikesh.

Speaking on the occasion, Dhami said, "So far, more than 11 lakh devotees have visited the Yatra. The area of Shri Hemkund Sahib has a rich ecosystem. It is our pledge to protect the environment here. We have pledged to make this Yatra plastic-free. You are requested to follow the rules made by the ancestors during the Yatra."

Dhami also highlighted the amenities provided by the government for the devotees' convenience.
"For the convenience of the pilgrims, railings and signboards have been installed on the path. Before the start of the Yatra, arrangements for drinking water, electricity, and hot water machines have been made for the devotees at Shri Hemkund Sahib," he said.
CM Dhami also slammed people for criticising Operation Sindoor.
"Some people who used to oppose action against terrorism earlier are still raising questions on Operation Sindoor. If you see soldiers anywhere on the Yatra route, salute them," CM Dhami emphasised.
Today, the first group embarked on their journey to the Hemkund Sahib from Rishikesh. On May 25, the gates of the gurudwara will be opened for 'darshan'.
The Char Dham Yatra began on April 30, when the Gangotri and Yamunotri Dhams opened on Akshaya Tritiya, amid Vedic chants and rituals.
Following this, the doors of Kedarnath Dham were opened on May 2, and those of Badrinath on May 4, completing the ceremonial openings of the four sacred shrines that form the Char Dham pilgrimage circuit. (ANI)