Summary:
Dehradun, Nov 30 (PTI) The Uttarakhand government led by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday ordered scrapping of the Chardham Devasthanam Board, reversing the 2019 decision of his predecessor Trivendra Singh Rawat.
Dhami’s decision led the Congress to term the scrapping of the Board as "defeat” of the saffron party"s “arrogance” even as the Chardham priests hailed the decision, terming it as their “victory” and thanking Dhami for it while distributing sweets among themselves.
They also offered prayers at Gangotri and Yamunotri temples in the Himalayas praying for Dhami’s long life.
"After studying all aspects of the issue, we have decided to withdraw the Chardham Devasthanam Board Act," Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said.
Chardham priests had been demanding scrapping of the board ever since its creation in 2019 saying it was an infringement of their traditional rights over the temples.
A high-level committee constituted by Dhami to look into the Devasthanam Board issue had submitted its recommendations to him in Rishikesh on Sunday.