SAD opposed to scrapping of Anandpur Sahib-Naina Devi ropeway

Akali Dal today said it is opposed to any move of "termination" of the ropeway project between Sri Anandpur Sahib and Naina Devi in the Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh by the Congress government.
The Congress party is "playing dirty politics on this prestigious project," Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) secretary and spokesman Daljit Singh Cheema said in a statement.
The project was a brainchild of Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and was aimed at providing facilities to pilgrims going to the shrines of Anandpur Sahib (Punjab) and Naina Devi (HP)
Presently, both the religious places are connected only by a road, he said, adding that, "Congress should not forget history simply to satisfy its political hunger."

Cheema said it is pertinent to mention that the MoU to construct a ropeway between the two religious places was signed by Badal and then Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal on July 26, 2012.
"After coming to power, the Virbhadra Singh-led Congress government decided to review the project and now it is conspiring to terminate the agreement," he alleged.

He further claimed that "it is surprising that the Congress government is planning to terminate the project on political grounds."
Appealing to the Himachal Pradesh government to reconsider its decision keeping in view the sentiments of the people, Cheema said that the project was the need of the hour.

"It will boost religious tourism and would prove immensely helpful for the aged and physically challenged pilgrims," he added.