Calls protests over issue ‘selective outrage’
MANDI/KULLU:Sunder Singh Thakur, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary and Congress MLA from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh, on Friday (February 21, 2024) reignited the ongoing controversy over the proposed diversion of Manikaran’s sacred hot spring water to Kasol, taking a sharp dig at his political opponents and calling out what he described as “selective outrage” over the issue.
In a Facebook post, Sunder Singh Thakur clarified his stand firmly and hit out at BJP leaders, targeting them for meddling with several historical decisions in the past, which led to the downfall of tourism in this part of valley.
“We have already drilled water in Kasol and excellent quality water has been found. Some people have a habit of creating unnecessary issues. Those talking about religious sentiments should also ensure that the water diverted for household bathrooms and those bathing in the sacred Kund stop doing so immediately.
These are the same people who opposed the Ski Village Project, causing significant harm to tourism. When NHPC Stage-2 water was diverted, they were setting up crushers and collaborating with cement companies. No water is being taken from the Manikaran religious site.
Some self-proclaimed guardians of religion are misleading people with baseless statements,” Sunder Singh Thakur wrote in his post.
Sunder Singh Thakur’s statement didn’t just defend the controversial proposal but also questioned the intentions of those opposing it.
How the Manikaran water controversy began
The roots of the controversy trace back to a proposal by the Special Area Development Authority (SADA) to divert a portion of Manikaran’s famed hot spring water to Kasol.
The plan was part of a larger initiative to promote eco-tourism, aiming to offer hot bath facilities in Kasol using water piped from the sacred springs.
However, this proposal quickly met fierce resistance from local residents, religious leaders and devotees who argued that the move would compromise the sanctity of Manikaran, a spiritual hub for both Hindus and Sikhs.
Threats of mass protests echoed through the valley, with many claiming that the springs are integral to religious rituals and should remain untouched.
Political lines drawn: BJP versus Congress
The issue soon took a political turn, pitting two influential leaders against each other. BJP stalwart Maheshwar Singh, a prominent voice in Kullu and a descendant of the local royal family, strongly condemned the plan.
Maheshwar Singh accused the Congress government of commercialising a sacred resource and eroding the region’s cultural and spiritual heritage.
“Manikaran is not just a tourist spot, it is a place of faith. Diverting its holy waters for tourism undermines centuries of devotion,” Maheshwar Singh stated in an earlier press briefing.
But Sunder Singh Thakur, Congress’s leading face in the region, hit back, accusing Maheshwar Singh and his allies of exploiting religious sentiments for political gains.
In today’s Facebook post, he also exposed a critical contradiction: the fact that several hoteliers in Kasol have quietly been diverting hot spring water for years without any significant uproar.
“Why was there silence when hoteliers used this water for commercial gains? Why does outrage surface only now? This selective protest speaks volumes,” Sunder Singh Thakur argued.
History of ‘silent diversion’ of hot water
Sunder Singh Thakur’s accusation holds weight. Investigations reveal that numerous hotels and guesthouses in Kasol have been drawing hot spring water from Manikaran for private use, often with little to no opposition.
This long-standing practice, overlooked by both authorities and religious leaders, raises questions about the true motivations behind the current outcry.
Locals familiar with the situation believe that while the religious sanctity of Manikaran is a valid concern, the sudden backlash appears timed to fuel political rivalries, especially given the history between Maheshwar Singh and Sunder Singh Thakur.
The two have been at loggerheads since Sunder Singh Thakur defeated Maheshwar Singh in the 2017 Kullu elections, and this controversy has only deepened the divide.
Search for balance: Tradition versus development
Caught in the middle are the people of Kullu and Kasol, torn between preserving cultural heritage and embracing tourism-driven economic growth.
While Sunder Singh Thakur emphasises the potential for sustainable tourism and has even proposed drilling for separate water sources in Kasol, Maheshwar Singh and his supporters argue that sacred sites should remain untouched, regardless of the economic incentives.
Munish Sood(mandi)
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