By Arun Pratap Singh
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 15 Jul: Following the press conference by Badri-Kedar Temple Committee Chairman Hemant Dwivedi today, Congress leader Ganesh Godiyal reacted sharply when media-persons sought clarification regarding the earlier deployment roster of accused employee Pramod Nautiyal. The controversy stems from allegations levelled by BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi on Monday, accusing Godiyal of irregularities. In response, Godiyal challenged Dwivedi to a joint press conference. Yesterday, he had organised a press meet, placed a chair beside him bearing Dwivedi’s name and waited for him to attend, but Dwivedi did not turn up.
When asked about documents released by Dwivedi showing that during his tenure as Chairman, the Board had appointed Nautiyal as Personal Secretary on 27 November 2017, and that records also indicated Nautiyal had previously been assigned offering counting duty at Badrinath, Godiyal declined to answer directly. Instead, he reiterated his challenge for a public debate. He maintained that no employee attached to the BKTC Chairman should be deployed on offering counting duty.
Responding to the Dwivedi’s allegation regarding use of BKTC funds for renovation of Binsar and Shiva temple at Pokhri, Godiyal said that funds for the renovation of Binsar Temple and the Shiva Temple at Pokhari were released only after approval by the Board. He claimed that after about Rs 9 lakhs had been spent, the BJP government halted construction of the Binsar Temple after coming to power in 2017. According to him, the construction was approved once again a year later in a meeting of the Devasthanam Board. He also said funds had been sanctioned for construction of an approach road to land allotted to the Temple Committee in Pratap Nagar of Tehri district.
Godiyal questioned why, if the allegations against him were genuine, neither the BJP government nor the BKTC had ordered an inquiry during the past nine years. He insisted that the charges are politically motivated and reiterated that he was prepared to face Dwivedi in a joint press conference to settle the matter publicly.
