Kedarnath priests are angry, accusing the BKTC president of breaking traditions.

At Kedarnath, the priests have once again leveled serious allegations against Hemant Dwivedi, the chairman of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC). This time, Acharya Santosh Trivedi, vice-president of the Uttarakhand Chardham Tirtha Purohit Mahapanchayat, has openly expressed his opposition and demanded the chairman’s removal from his post.

Kedarnath priests are displeased with the BKTC chairman
Acharya Trivedi says that traditions are being consistently violated at Kedarnath. Recently, during the visit of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, the committee chairman deviated from traditional practices and personally administered the “Bhagwambar” (sacred headgear), which is the right of priests and pilgrim priests. He stated that the chairman’s role is to oversee arrangements, not perform religious rituals.

Allegations of neglect of pilgrims’ amenities at Kedarnath
Acharya Trivedi alleged that pilgrims’ amenities at Kedarnath are being neglected. Amid the snowfall, there is a shortage of medicines and essential supplies, locker rooms are not available, and pilgrims are being charged arbitrary fees in the name of a mobile phone ban. He also said that the president did not participate in the Bhagwat Katha organized for the peace of the souls who died in the 2013 disaster.

Priests demand Hemant Dwivedi’s removal from his post
Acharya Santosh Trivedi warned that if the government does not take immediate action, the pilgrimage priests will resort to agitation. He has demanded the Chief Minister’s immediate removal of Hemant Dwivedi from his post.