New Delhi: Amid the donation theft row at Ram temple in Ayodhya, allegations of misappropriation of offerings and donations have surfaced in the Shri Badrinath Dham temple in the BJP-ruled Uttarakhand, potentially creating fresh headwinds for the party in the state due for polls early next year.
Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) chairman Hemant Dwivedi has announced the formation of a committee for an ‘impartial’ and ‘fact-based’ investigation into the matter.
Speaking to ThePrint, Dwivedi, a political appointee associated with the BJP, said a preliminary enquiry has already been initiated, and showcause notices served on all employees involved in the donation counting process.
“In fact, not many know that even devotees are present during the counting of donations to ensure transparency. Many are alleging that the employee in question is my personal assistant (PA), which is not true at all. As the matter is sensitive and surfaced soon after the Ram Mandir donation theft allegations, we realised its sensitivity and that it must be handled with utmost care. We took action within 24 hours of receiving the complaint from Bhairav Sena,” he added.
Dwivedi said there appears to be an attempt to create a political issue out of this, and termed it a conspiracy to defame the Pushkar Dhami-led government in the state.
“The first phase of the (Chardham) Yatra has been completed successfully and they are definitely trying to make it into a political controversy,” he told ThePrint. “Ye dharmik aastha ka kendra hai aur sanatan dharm aur Devbhoomi ke prati isse ek political issue banaya jaa raha hai,” he said in Hindi, essentially suggesting an attempt to target the Sanatan Dharma and the Devbhoomi.
He further said that the temple is a centre of deep religious faith and devotion, and there appears to be an attempt to target the Dhami government as well and damage its public image.
“Efforts seem to have been made to create sensationalism and spread misinformation. In the present situation, appropriate remedies have been taken immediately. There appears to be a conspiracy to give the issue a political colour,” he said.
Dwivedi had earlier stated that the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee has taken a very serious view of the allegations circulating on social media and has sought an explanation.
“Once the investigation is complete, if any employee is found guilty, strict and effective action will be ensured against them in accordance with the rules,” he added.
The issue came to light after the Hindu organisation Bhairav Sena accused an employee of the BKTC of stealing donation money from the shrine.
BJP’s concerns
With elections in Uttarakhand just months away, the state unit of the BJP is concerned over the allegations. According to sources, party leaders said that, unlike what happened in the Ram Mandir donation theft case, where an enquiry was delayed and it snowballed into a major controversy, BKTC has already ordered an investigation.
“At a time when there are even talks that elections in Uttarakhand could be held earlier (even this year), such allegations surfacing after the Ayodhya case have the potential to impact public perception and give ammunition to the opposition. The government has ensured that the allegations are taken seriously and has acted swiftly,” said a senior BJP leader.
Congress has already started questioning the investigation ordered by BKTC, with senior party leader Ragini Nayak asking how justice will be delivered if the people against whom allegations have been made conduct the investigation.
Senior Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh said, “Votes were taken in the name of Ram for the Ram Temple, but Ram’s name is being tarnished. Revelations have recently surfaced in Kedarnath and Badrinath, where donations were also stolen. Why is this theft happening in BJP-ruled states? Because BJP and RSS members are in this trust. Didn’t the Prime Minister and Home Minister know about these people?”
The issue is all the more important to the party as the Badrinath Shine forms part of one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages. Along with Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri, Badrinath is a core destination of one of the most important Hindu pilgrimages – the Chardham Yatra.
The hill state sees thousands of Hindu pilgrims as well as large numbers of tourists every year. Being a political appointee of the BJP, Dwivedi also refuted allegations regarding the employee under suspicion who was being referred to as his ‘personal secretary’ on social media.
“The employee in question is a regular government employee of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee and has previously worked as a Personal Assistant to three former chairmen of the committee. Therefore, if the allegations circulating on social media regarding him are found to be true, strict action will be taken against the guilty parties,” he added.
At the same time, BKTC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sohan Singh Rangad, a state service officer, said in a statement that a social media post regarding the temple has been going viral since 2 July.
“CCTV footage from the temple premises was examined today based on the alleged complaint received. Although the available footage lacks the necessary clarity, the BKTC Chairman has been apprised of the entire matter, given its seriousness and sensitivity. In compliance with the Chairman’s directives, explanations are being sought from the concerned employees,” he said.
“Additionally, a proposal to constitute an internal inquiry committee for a fair and detailed investigation into the matter is being submitted to the Chairman. Once constituted, the committee will conduct a detailed inquiry based on all facts, available evidence, and statements from the concerned parties before submitting its report,” he added.
Rangad further said that the matter concerns a world-renowned pilgrimage site in Uttarakhand, which is a focal point of faith for millions of devotees.
“Therefore, until any allegation is substantiated through a formal inquiry, one should refrain from making unverified or misleading accusations and counter-accusations. Everyone is expected to exercise restraint and respect religious sentiments so that the dignity and image of this sacred shrine remain untarnished,” he added.
The allegations at the Badrinath temple has surfaced amid an ongoing probe into similar charges at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, where eight people have been arrested, and several top temple management committee members have stepped down.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)