Entry rules for sacred places should be as per religious beliefs & Devbhumi’s image: BJP

PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun

The Bharatiya Janata Party has stressed that a decision on the entry of non-Hindus in the sacred shrines should be taken according to religious beliefs and the image of Devbhumi Uttarakhand. Criticising comments made by the Congress on this issue, BJP State president and Rajya Sabha member Mahendra Bhatt said that those unable to differentiate between pilgrimage and tourism consider the Char Dham important only for the economic aspect. 

Responding to the decision to allow only followers of Sanatan Dharma into Char Dham shrines, he said that the religious faith of the masses and traditions must be accorded priority. If the Teerth Purohits, local priests and others concerned want to make rules regarding the entry into the Dhams, there is nothing wrong in this. Such restrictions are in place in many places with the cooperation of the public. He questioned why any person without faith, belief or religious attachment with these religious places wants to visit the shrines.

A Mandir is a community place of worship so any objectionable behaviour cannot be allowed to spoil the atmosphere in such a place, he added.

Bhatt criticised the statements of Congress leaders especially of Pradesh Congress Committee president Ganesh Godiyal who linked the Char Dham with recreational travel. “It seems as if the Congress is far from Sanatan, which is why its leaders are unable to differentiate between pilgrimage and tourism. That is why they are prioritising economic aspects over the sacredness and traditions of the Char Dham. We are aware that the Char Dham Yatra is very important for the State’s economy but all processes in the sacred places must take place according to Sanatan traditions. There is undoubtedly immense potential for tourism in the State but such activities in religious places must happen only according to beliefs and tradition,” the BJP State president said.

He questioned the attitude of the Congress leaders in the State saying that they claim to play politics on the ‘Devbhumi’ concept in Uttarakhand but oppose every Sanatani decision. “They have a problem with regulations for entry in religious places, Uniform Civil Code and neither want the anti-religious conversion Act nor are they opposing encroachments by unauthorised religious structures. The Congress leaders have a problem also when it comes to maintaining the State’s demography or action against land and love Jihad,” Bhatt added.