Badrinath Witnesses Protest Against Char Dham Yatra Mismanagement

In a significant display of dissent, priests and locals in Uttarakhand's Badrinath voiced their frustration on Monday against what they termed as mismanagement of the Char Dham Yatra by the district administration. This alleged mismanagement has reportedly led to considerable inconvenience for the people visiting this revered site. In a symbolic gesture of protest, shops around the Himalayan temple remained shuttered for the day, and members of the Panda community alongside other locals took to the streets to express their grievances.

Photo Credit: PTI

The core issues highlighted by the protestors include a call for the cessation of the VIP darshan system at Badrinath, the removal of barricades blocking traditional routes used by locals, and a demand for reinstating previous entry protocols into the temple. The agitation escalated until discussions were held between the protestors and officials from the temple committee, leading to the removal of road barricades. Joshimath Sub-Collector Chandrashekhar Vashishth acknowledged that senior officials have been briefed on the protestors' demands.

Addressing one of the primary concerns raised, Kishore Panwar, vice-president of the Temple Committee, clarified that the VIP darshan system has yet to be implemented following directives from the state government. In response to the overwhelming influx of devotees, the Uttarakhand government has proactively reached out to chief secretaries across all states and Union territories, advising a temporary halt on VIP visits to Char Dham for a fortnight. This year's Char Dham Yatra commenced on May 10.

The protest also saw pilgrims joining in, as markets and shops closed temporarily, disrupting access to essential goods. The agitation stems from broader dissatisfaction with alleged irregularities under the guise of a master plan for Kedarnath and Badrinath. Parveen Dhyani from the Badrinath Teerth Purohit organisation highlighted that over a dozen homes belonging to Panda community members have been demolished. Furthermore, he criticized the chaos induced by the temple committee's handling of VIP darshan and the closure of main pedestrian routes to local residences.

Following the protest, measures were taken to alleviate some concerns; barricades on pedestrian paths were removed, and VIP darshan counters were closed. The residents of Badrinath are slated to convene on Tuesday to deliberate on further actions to ensure their demands are met fully. Sub-Collector Vashishth confirmed that immediate steps had been taken post-discussion with protestors, including clearing obstructions on roads leading to Bamani village while keeping higher officials informed about unresolved issues.