Char Dham: Hoteliers, tour operators to start stir over ban on yatra
HARIDWAR: Protesting the ban on Char Dham yatra, associations of hoteliers and tour operators, taxi unions and other stakeholders have decided to launch an agitation, demanding that the pilgrimage, with which their livelihood is linked, be started at the earliest with adherence to Covid guidelines.
The associations have formed a joint forum to start the agitation. The forum has decided to show black flags to cabinet ministers and legislators of the ruling BJP who enter Haridwar. The Dharamshala Raksha Samiti, which has 400 dharamshala owners as its members, has supported the forum’s demand.
“Pilgrimage to Char Dham shrines is held normally for six to seven months. Three months have already passed and barring temple priests, pilgrims are not being allowed. The state government is opening up schools but not Char Dham pilgrimage,” said Abhishek Ahluwalia, coordinator of the Joint Forum for Tourism. “Pilgrims can be allowed for the yatra by making RT-PCR negative test report mandatory or following double vaccination norm. Ban on the yatra is having a major impact on businesses of thousands of people associated with Char Dham pilgrimage season. Their livelihood is at stake.”
Forum convener Arvind Khaneja said, “Char Dham yatra is the lifeline of the religious-spiritual tourism sector of Uttarakhand. Businesses of people linked to the pilgrimage have been affected for the second consecutive year.”
Dharamshala Raksha Samiti president Mahesh Gaud said, “Dharamshalas are primarily for seers, pilgrims and poor people. We have also got affected due to the ban on Char Dham yatra. We support the joint forum’s demand fof opening up of the yatra.”
At Joshimath in Chamoli district, stakeholders and local villagers have been staging a protest, demanding opening up of the Badrinath shrine. Badrish Sangarsh Samiti has called a mahapanchayat on August 5 at Badrinath town to discuss the future course of action.
Badrish Sangarsh Samiti president Rajesh Mehta said, “Stakeholders and people linked with the holy shrine will take part in the mahapanchayat.”
On June 28, the Uttarakhand high court stayed Char Dham yatra amid fears of a Covid-19 third wave and fast-transmissible Delta Plus variant. Expressing dissatisfaction over the affidavit filed by the state government, the HC said the pilgrimage should not be allowed as the court is not satisfied with the preparedness of the government, especially regarding the healthcare facilities and vaccination status in the three districts – Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi. HC directed the state to livestream the daily prayers and rituals held at the shrines for people across the country.
On June 20, the state had announced allowing Char Dham yatra in two phases -- from July 1, for locals of the three districts where the four shrines are situated, and from July 11, for people across the state.
The Char Dham yatra could not begin last year as per schedule on April 26 because of the lockdown imposed check spread of Covid-19. The shrines were opened for local pilgrims on July 1 last year and for those from other states in the last week of that month. According to Char Dham Devasthanam Management Board officials, over 310,000 pilgrims came for Char Dham yatra last year.