look news india
A big controversy has emerged from the world famous Shri Badrinath Dham located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand. After cases of misappropriation of donations and offerings at the temple were exposed, a proposal to have priests wear “kurta without pockets” was put forward by the administration and the temple committee. The priests and pilgrim priests of Badrinath Dham have expressed strong objection to this proposal. The priests clearly say that such a decision is a direct attack on their religious dignity and integrity, which will not be accepted at any cost.
Why did the priests express strong opposition?
Dinesh Dimri, the priest of Mahalaxmi temple located in Badrinath Dham, has expressed strong displeasure over this strange proposal. He has warned that if any attempt is made to forcibly impose such a rule on the priests, it will be fiercely opposed.
The priests argue that they remain engaged in the service of Lord Badri Vishal with complete devotion, tradition and purity. In such a situation, raising suspicion of theft on the entire priestly community and forcing them to wear clothes without pockets is an insult to their honour.
Serious questions raised on BKTC employees
Pilgrim priests raised questions on the functioning of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) and said that this rule should be applied to those employees and officers who manage the donation box and counting of money offered.
The priests clearly say that the priests who conduct the puja have nothing to do with counting the amount in the donation box. If any irregularities or manipulations are found in the management of the offerings, the direct responsibility lies with the counting staff and not with the innocent priests.
What is the whole matter and why did the controversy start?
This whole controversy started after large scale misappropriation in the offerings of Badrinath temple. Considering the seriousness of the case, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed. During the investigation, the police arrested two main accused, including BKTC president Hemant Dwivedi’s personal assistant (PA) Pramod Nautiyal and former temple official Rajendra Chauhan.
In the CCTV footage that surfaced, these two officers were allegedly caught red-handed hiding wads of donated notes in their pockets.
What will be the situation next?
After the actions of the officials were exposed in CCTV, the temple management had prepared this proposal of pocketless kurta for the priests in the name of tightening the security arrangements. However, as soon as the proposal came forward, the priest community united and opened a front.
He says that it is unfair to tarnish the image of the priests instead of taking action against the real culprits. Now it will be interesting to see what stand the temple committee takes on this controversial proposal after the strong opposition from the priests.