Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday contended that the states of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have one soul. “UP and Uttarakhand might be two different territories politically and geographically, however, the soul of both the states remains one.”

Addressing the closing ceremony of the ‘Uttarayani Kauthig’ 2023 fair here, Yogi Adityanath said, “In Uttarakhand, the water of the Ganga will reach Gangasagar only when it comes down through the hills of Uttarakhand, and will move ahead via Uttar Pradesh. UP-Uttarakhand cannot exist separately.”

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On the occasion, the CM also remembered Gen. Bipin Rawat and Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali and called upon the residents of Uttarakhand to remain dedicated to the nation. The CM expressed gratitude to the council for conferring the ‘Veer Chandra Singh Garhwali’ Bravery Award on late CDS Bipin Rawat, which was received by his brother.

The CM said that Uttarayani Kauthig starts from Makar Sankranti. For 10 days, the rich cultural heritage of Uttarakhand are not only presented in front of the present and future generations but through it, the concept of PM Modi’s ‘Ek Bharat-Shreshth Bharat’ is also being realised. The CM congratulated the council for organising the event.

He said to keep the memory of Gen Rawat alive, the UP government has named Sainik School in Mainpuri after him. There will be a grand programme on his birth anniversary (March 16).

“Uttarakhand also represents the army fighting at the forefront for the country. Every family in Uttarakhand in one way or another is contributing to the protection of the country. By joining the army, they consider service to the country as their duty and pride,” said Yogi.

The CM said that we should feel proud of our traditions and culture. It is not known whether people were able to join with enthusiasm at the time of independence or not, but in the 75th year of independence, every Indian hoisted the tricolor at their home and proved that our caste, religion, religion, language, food habits may be different, but our emotions and feelings are one. We respect the symbols of India. On August 15, India’s 140 crore population was seen speaking in one voice.

The CM said that Uttarakhand is identified as ‘Devbhoomi’ because it reflects positivity. “I spent 14-15 years of my childhood in Uttarakhand. It is a land of meditation, full of spirituality. The intensity of faith is the same even today. Spirituality is the key to the solution to all issues. We may not believe much in the materialistic era, but efforts should be made to preserve it,” he said.