News India Live, Digital Desk: Rishikesh: The Chardham Yatra is scheduled to begin on April 30, and devotees from all over the country and abroad have started reaching Rishikesh to see the holy dhams. But with the onset of the yatra, an old dispute has again been hot – demanding a ban on the entry of Muslims in the Chardham Yatra and the commercial areas around it.
The impact of Pahalgam attack and the anger of the devotees
A terrorist attack on Hindu tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir has recently emerged as a major reason behind this demand. Angered by the attack, some devotees openly said that the entry of Muslims in Chardham Yatra should be completely stopped. He believes that it is very important to ban this security point of view after incidents like Pahalgam.
Concern on local employment and external business
On the other hand, some Hindu organizations have protested against the business being done by the Muslim community people in Badrinath Dham located in Chamoli district. He says that people of the Muslim community should not be allowed to do business in the four dhams – Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri.
Many local people and devotees also believe that local residents should be given priority in hotels, horses-mules and other businesses in these four dhams. It is being alleged that outsiders, especially the people of the Muslim community, are running business in their name by paying some money to the local people, due to which the local people are not getting work. Some people also raised the question that the administration should investigate how hundreds of horses in Kedarnath are recorded in the name of the same person.
Verification and other demands
Some devotees believe that even if there is no restriction, it is very important to have a proper verification of at least every person coming to Chardham. At the same time, some women devotees clearly demanded the ban on the entry of Muslims as well as the removal of Muslim horse-mule operators and to give this work to Hindus.
Stance of temple committee and religious leaders
On this entire controversy, Vijay Thapliyal, Chief Executive Officer of Badri-Kedarnath Temple Committee, said that he has no instructions in this regard from the government (government) and he would not want to comment on the issue.
However, Shambhavi Peethadhishwar and Kali Army chief Swami Anand Swaroop have strongly advocated the entry of non-Hindus (especially Muslims) into Chardham. He suggested that if people of other religions actually have faith in Chardham, they can go for darshan by giving affidavits. Swami Anand Swaroop also demanded a complete ban on the registration of Muslim horse-mule operators.
Muslim society response
On the other hand, representatives of Muslim society have described the demand for such a ban as “irresponsible”. He says that some people may have their own thinking, but India has always been a country of Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb, where people of all religions have lived with brotherhood respecting each other. He said that he welcomes the passengers of Chardham and should avoid such rhetoric about Hindu-Muslim which spoil the atmosphere.
