PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Jyotirmath
The Badrish Sangharsh Samiti, Badrinath Dham has been protesting in support of its demands for about two weeks now. The Char Dham Teerth Purohit Mahapanchayat has also come out in support of the protest. The Mahapanchayat functionaries have opposed tampering with the ancient traditions of the Char Dham in Uttarakhand.
Agreeing with the protestors, they stated that the issues of the formation of a development authority in Badrinath, unplanned and indiscriminate development works being carried out under the Badrinath masterplan and the check on numbers of people visiting the Char Dham should be addressed.
With no positive response coming from the authorities, the Sangharsh Samiti escalated its protest on Monday with the traders keeping their shops shut for two hours after which three of the protestors got their scalps shaved as a mark of protest. Badrish Panda Panchayat head Pravin Dhyani said that the local stakeholders have been protesting for 14 days to elicit the focus of the government on important issues but the authorities have remained apathetic. The local market remained closed for two hours, three protestors got their scalps shaved and six sat on Dharna on Monday. He said that if the government continues to remain apathetic, the protestors will resort to a protest unto death.
Meanwhile, the Mahapanchayat came out in support of the protest with its head Suresh Semwal stating that there is no need for a development authority in Badrinath Dham. He said that Badrinath should be maintained as a religious centre, adding that the Mahapanchayat will oppose encouragement of tourism activity in the Char Dham. The body also demanded that the riverfront works under the masterplan should be paused till a review is undertaken.
