U'khand Assembly tables Char Dham Shrine Management Bill amid protests by Cong MLAs

The Uttarakhand Char Dham Shrine Management Bill was tabled in the assembly on Monday even as the Congress strongly opposed the legislation and staged a dharna in the Well of the House, causing several adjournments which took up the entire Question Hour.

The assembly was adjourned twice amid the opposition's demand that the Bill be withdrawn.

The Bill seeks to create a char dham shrine board that will run the affairs of 51 temples across Uttarakhand, including the four famous Himalayan shrines.

When repeated requests by Speaker Prem Chandra Agrawal seeking cooperation from Congress members to run the proceedings went in vain, Tourism Minister Satpal Maharaj tabled the Bill in the House amid continuing slogan shouting by opposition MLAs.

The opposition alleged that it was not taken into confidence over the Bill which had also caused great resentment among the teerth-purohits who felt creation of the shrine management board will hurt their interests.

The statement of objects and reasons of the Uttarakhand Char Dham Shrine Management Bill, 2019 says creation of the body will be a "milestone for the rejuvenation of Shri Badrinath, Shri Kedarnath, Gangotri, Yamunotri and other famous temples located in the state."