‘Hurting Hindu Sentiments’: U’khand MLA Seeks Ban On ‘Non-Hindus’ At Kedarnath, Cong Slams ‘Sensationalism’
The BJP MLA from Kedarnath calls for banning non-Hindus from the Kedarnath temple due to allegations of hurting pilgrims' sentiments. The Congress criticises the remarks as sensational.
BJP MLA from Kedarnath, Asha Nautiyal, has called for a ban on non-Hindus from entering the Kedarnath temple premises, alleging that certain individuals are attempting to "malign the image" of the revered pilgrimage site and "hurting the sentiments" of Hindu pilgrims.
Speaking to news agency PTI on Sunday, Nautiyal stated that concerns were raised during a recent meeting on 'yatra' management regarding incidents that allegedly go unnoticed. "I had conducted a meeting with local businessmen, they said that non-Hindus are doing activities which are hurting the sentiments of Hindu pilgrims. They are deliberately doing this, hence there should be a ban on such people. Since I am an MLA, I have the responsibility to raise it. The pilgrims should go back from Char Dham with the faith with which they arrive," she said.
VIDEO | Demanding no entry of non-Hindus trying to hurt the sentiments of pilgrims, Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal says, "I had conducted a meeting with local businessmen, they said that non-Hindus are doing activities which are hurting the sentiments of Hindu pilgrims. They are… pic.twitter.com/782fPGgTJA
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 16, 2025
She further claimed that the individuals engaging in such activities were "definitely non-Hindus" and should be restricted from the temple. "They are definitely non-Hindus who come there and are involved in such activities which defame the Dham... We need to look into it because if such an issue has been raised, then there must be something to it... We will demand that the entry of such people be banned," she told news agency ANI.
#WATCH | Dehradun, Uttarakhand: BJP MLA from Kedarnath assembly seat Asha Nautiyal says, "There was a meeting held recently regarding the Yatra management at Kedarnath... Some people raised an issue that some incidents take place which go unnoticed. I also agree if some people… pic.twitter.com/vDgUEh4e5f
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2025
Backing Nautiyal’s statement, BJP’s media-in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan told The Indian Express, “The BJP backs her statements because it is about the sentiments of Hinduism. These four pilgrimages are important in Sanatan Dharma and people take this pilgrimage in lakhs there every year.”
Chauhan also alleged that businessmen in the region had raised concerns about the sale of liquor and meat in Kedarnath. “Over the last few years, there has been news of disruption by Muslims, and they have been selling meat in the region. This was raked up by the businessmen in Kedarnath. It’s wrong to conduct such businesses in this holy abode. There are liquor shops as well in the guise of other businesses,” he added.
Congress Leader Harish Singh Rawat Slams ‘Sensational Remarks’
Reacting to the remarks, Congress leader and former CM Harish Singh Rawat criticised Nautiyal’s demand, accusing BJP leaders of making "sensational remarks." Speaking to news agency PTI, he said, "BJP leaders seem to be in a race to make sensational remarks. Uttarakhand is a 'devbhoomi' (land of the gods), and how long will you attach everything with religion? They are doing this because they don't have anything to tell people."
VIDEO | Uttarakhand: On BJP MLA Asha Nautiyal calling ban of non-Hindus from Kedarnath, Congress leader Harish Singh Rawat says, "It is a habit of BJP leaders to make sensational remarks. Uttarakhand is a 'devbhoomi' and how long will you attach everything with religion? They are… pic.twitter.com/qO8NXpVKwT
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 16, 2025
"Such issues also came up during the floods. We took appropriate action when I was the CM... If something like that is there, then action should be taken without creating an uproar. She (Asha Nautiyal) should ask her CM. Although this is not a CM-level issue, the DM and the SSP can look into it," he told ANI.
#WATCH | Dehradun: On Kedarnath MLA Asha Nautiyal's statement, Congress leader Harish Rawat says, "Such issues also came up during the floods. We took appropriate action when I was the CM... If something like that is there, then action should be taken without creating an uproar.… https://t.co/OraFOWpXXe pic.twitter.com/FT3UOkrUo6
— ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2025
Meanwhile, the Union Cabinet has approved two major ropeway projects at Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib to enhance Uttarakhand’s tourism infrastructure. The Kedarnath ropeway, a 12.9 km project from Sonprayag to Kedarnath, will be developed under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate, and Transfer (DBFOT) model with a total capital cost of ₹4,081.28 crore. The project, to be executed through a public-private partnership, will use the advanced Tri-cable Detachable Gondola (3S) technology and is expected to carry 18,000 passengers per day.
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