By Sunil Sonker Mussoorie, 14 Jan: The controversy surrounding the collection of entry fees from tourists and locals at the George Everest Estate tourist spot, in defiance of clear orders from the High Court, is deepening. On Wednesday, the Congress party and local citizens staged a strong protest against the state government and the private company managing the Estate over this issue.Led by Congress leader Sushant Vohra, Congress workers and local residents took out a protest rally from Picture Palace Chowk to Gandhi Chowk. During the protest, the demonstrators, carrying placards, raised slogans against the Uttarakhand government and accused it of adopting anti-people policies. At Gandhi Chowk, the protesters also burned an effigy of the state’s BJP government.Congress leaders said that the High Court has clearly directed that no entry fee should be charged for visiting George Everest Estate, yet the operating company is openly defying the court’s orders. This is not only contempt of court but also exploitation of the general public and tourists.Sushant Vohra alleged that the state government is leasing out the country’s valuable and historical heritage sites to select industrialists at throwaway prices and allowing them to illegally extort money from the public. He said that, under the BJP government, neither the officials are ready to listen to the public nor are the private companies following the law.He also said that local people are being continuously exploited and tourists are being illegally extorted at historical sites, but the regional MLA and Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi is remaining silent on the entire matter. He questioned why the minister has not yet issued a statement on this serious issue.The Congress leader warned that, if the High Court’s orders are not followed within a week, the Congress party will intensify the agitation and will fight from the streets to the courts. Local residents participating in the protest also stated that the occupation of a public tourist spot like George Everest Estate by a private company and the illegal collection of fees is completely wrong and will not be tolerated at any cost.
Several people were present on the occasion, including Jagpal Gusain, Abhay Sharma, Shoaib, Abhay Sharma, Shahrukh Khan, and Vishal Kharola.
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