The Shri Badrinath Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has announced that entry into temples under its administration will be restricted to Hindus, a move that has sparked political reactions in Uttarakhand.

The decision, disclosed on Sunday (January 25), will apply to all 45 temples managed by the committee, The Wire reported.

Making the announcement, BKTC chairman and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Hemant Dwivedi said the step was aimed at safeguarding the religious ethos of the state.

“Preserving the religious and cultural traditions of Devbhoomi Uttarakhand was of paramount importance,” he said, adding that a formal resolution to this effect would be passed at the committee’s upcoming board meeting.

Dwivedi maintained that barring the entry of non-Hindus into these temples was a long-established practice, but alleged that these traditions were diluted under previous non-BJP regimes.

“To ensure the sanctity of these shrines and proper observance of age-old traditions, concrete steps will now be taken by the temple committee,” he said in a statement.

He also lauded the state government’s recent drive against illegally constructed shrines, calling it a necessary step to reinforce Uttarakhand’s religious identity, cultural heritage and law and order.

According to him, the committee would take further measures to protect the sanctity of temples and ensure adherence to traditional practices.

The announcement, however, drew sharp criticism from opposition parties, who described it as a political ploy. They accused the ruling BJP of using the issue to divert attention from more urgent concerns facing the state.
Congress state vice-president Suryakant Dhasmana dismissed the move as unnecessary.

“There is no need for any such formal prohibition as non-Hindus don’t enter these temples. They (BJP) just want to divert the public attention from pressing issues of the state,” he said.