The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has elicited criticism once again for a publication it has recently come out with. The cover of the folder published has an image of lord Shiva and goddess Parvati with the image of Badrinath temple in the middle. However, the very next page has the photograph of the BKTC chief executive officer instead of the lord’s image.
The devotees of Badrinath along with members of the local community and intellectuals have strongly criticised this stating that apart from affecting religious sentiments, such placement of a public servant’s photograph would also amount to violation of the committee's service rules and regulations.
In recent years, especially after creation of Uttarakhand State, the BKTC elicited strong response from time to time regarding issues ranging from alleged anomalies in appointments and alleged corruption related accusations.
This time, the condemnation has been sparked by a photograph of the BKTC chief executive officer BD Singh placed prominently on the page instead of the lord’s image. The photograph placed at the top of the page is being seen as a blatant violation of service rules apart from being termed as a violations of the official’s authority. Veteran journalist and author Harish Chandola too has strongly criticised this. He said, “It is not appropriate to place the photograph of an official where the image of the lord should have been placed. Instead of disseminating and sharing the glories and history of lord Badrinath and his temple here, the official appears to be attempting to publicise himself which is not appropriate,” said the senior journalist.
He questioned the system and the level of facilitation here while also expressing strong criticism and disappointment at an official focusing on establishing his own identity instead of undertaking the vital task of improving and maintaining facilities at the shrines and for devotees arriving here from across the world.
local resident social worker Atul Sati strongly criticised the CEO. He said, “ In blatant violation of the service regulations, the CEO appears to be focusing more on publicising himself and less on the lord. I strongly condemn this,” said Sati. When this correspondent phoned the BKTC chairman Ganesh Godiyal to seek his view on the issue, he did not take the call.