Congress demands investigation by VS committee in allegation of theft in Badrinath offerings

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun

 Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president Ganesh Godiyal has demanded that a joint committee of Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha headed by the leader of the opposition (LoP) should investigate the allegations of theft in the offerings made at the Badrinath Dham.  In a statement on Monday, Godiyal said that if the State government has an objection to the committee headed by the LoP then the investigation process could be monitored by a serving judge of the High Court.

Terming the issue extremely serious and sensitive, Godiyal said that the internal investigation ordered by the Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) is farce. He said that including officials and employees associated with the very people accused of irregularities and theft in the donations as part of the investigation committee is contrary to the principles of justice and transparency. 

Godiyal said that Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had the opportunity to take fair and strict action in this matter, but just as effective steps were not taken in the Kedarnath gold theft case in the past, the government’s intentions in this case also appear suspicious. 

He said that the allegations are levelled against the personal assistants of the chairman of the BKTC and individuals connected with them are included in the inquiry committee which puts up a question mark over the credibility of the investigation. 

Godiyal said that the Congress Party will not accept the report of this internal committee and will continue to demand a transparent, independent and impartial investigation in the issue concerning the faith of millions of followers of Sanatan Dharma.