By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 27 May: The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has ordered an inquiry into allegations that money donated by devotees at Kedarnath Temple has been used for the hospitality and special arrangements of political leaders and VIP guests. The controversy erupted after details obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act claimed that expenses related to the stay, food and other arrangements of certain BJP leaders and their associates during visits to Kedarnath were borne by the temple committee. Some of the leaders including Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal and BJP State Secretary Neha Joshi, who were alleged to have availed of this hospitality at the cost of BKTC funds have strongly denied the allegations and have also demanded a detailed inquiry into the allegations.
Following the allegations, BKTC constituted a four-member inquiry committee to investigate the matter in detail. The panel includes the committee’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Financial Controller and two other members. The committee has been given 20 days to submit its report, which will also be forwarded to the government and also made public.
The controversy had erupted after RTI activist and advocate Vikesh Negi sought details of BKTC expenditures. According to the information received under RTI, nearly Rs 60,000 was allegedly shown as spent by BKTC during the Kedarnath visit of Neha Joshi, BJP Secretary and daughter of Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi, while expenses of around Rs 37,500 were reportedly shown in the name of Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal. The RTI documents also allegedly mentioned expenditure on several other leaders and VIP visitors.
The revelations triggered sharp political reactions, with the Opposition accusing the government and temple committee of misusing devotees’ donations for VIP hospitality. Critics questioned how funds offered by devotees in faith could allegedly be used for the benefit of political personalities. The issue has once again brought the functioning and financial transparency of BKTC under scrutiny, amid long-standing criticism over VIP culture during the Char Dham Yatra. However, both the BJP leaders later issued statements that they had themselves incurred the expenditure on their stay and did not avail any government funds for their visits.
BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi today stated the matter has come to his notice through social media and RTI-related documents, following which all the relevant files and records have been summoned. He admitted that said the allegations are serious because they involve claims that donation money of devotees has been spent on VIP hospitality. Dwivedi stated that the inquiry committee would examine every aspect of the case, including interactions with those whose names have surfaced in the controversy.
At the same time, Dwivedi also added that Neha Joshi and local BJP office-bearers have also written letters regarding the issue and their statements would be considered during the investigation. At the same time, he alleged that attempts were being made to tarnish the image of the government and the temple committee through selective disclosure of documents. Dwivedi claimed that the RTI documents made public did not include the complete note sheets and proposals attached to the files.
He further said that seeking information under RTI is a healthy practice to expose corruption, but questioned why only one year’s records had been sought. He asserted that the present government is committed to strict action against corruption and that any irregularities found within BKTC, whether related to current or past tenures, would invite stringent action.
It may be reiterated here that Neha Joshi and Asha Nautiyal have both denied receiving any financial assistance or hospitality from BKTC during their visits to Kedarnath and maintained that they had undertaken the pilgrimage at their own expense. They also demanded a proper investigation into how expenditure bills were allegedly raised in their names.
The controversy has also revived debate over VIP culture in the Char Dham Yatra. Over the years, allegations have repeatedly surfaced that influential leaders and officials receive preferential treatment and direct access to the temple sanctum while ordinary devotees wait for hours in queues. Religious organisations and priest groups have earlier objected to such practices, arguing that all devotees should be treated equally in the temple.
Congress state president Ganesh Godiyal has described the matter as shameful and demanded recovery of the expenditure from the concerned leaders if the allegations were found to be true. He said the temple committee should immediately identify those on whose behalf the expenses were incurred and recover the money to restore public confidence.
At the same time, BJP state president Mahendra Bhatt said a transparent and impartial inquiry should be conducted to ascertain whether the bills and expenditure records were genuine or fabricated. He maintained that strict action must be taken against anyone found guilty.
