Plan to make Kedarnath replica in Delhi scrapped

DEHRADUN: Delhi-based Shri Kedarnath Dham Trust on Monday decided to stop the construction of a replica of the Kedarnath temple on a three-acre plot in Burari locality of the capital city following the controversy surrounding the project. The decision to build a replica of the revered Char Dham temple in Delhi sparked outrage after Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami laid the foundation stone for the temple on July 10.

Surendra Rautela, founder and national chairman of the trust, told TOI, "We do not want any controversy.Our purpose was to build a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. We apologise for hurting the sentiments of any individual or group. We have already stopped accepting donations for the temple. The trust has also initiated the process to change its name. We will now build a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in another part of Delhi."
Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC), the apex body that oversees the twin shrines and other important temples in Uttarakhand, had warned that it would take legal action against the trust if it proceeded with plans to construct a structure resembling the Kedarnath shrine.
The Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath, Swami Avimukteshwaranand, also strongly opposed the proposed temple, stating, "There cannot be a symbolic Kedarnath. The Shiva Purana mentions 12 Jyotirlingas with specific names and locations. Kedarnath's address is in the Himalayas; how can it be in Delhi?"
Congress accused the CM and the BJP of undermining the sanctity of the ancient Char Dham shrines, which include Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri.
Transfer funds collected by Delhi trust to BKTC: Godiyal
In response to the controversy, Dhami had earlier asserted that there "can only be one Kedarnath Dham in the country." On July 18, his cabinet decided to introduce a "stringent law to prevent the misuse of the names of the Char Dham shrines and other prominent temples in state".
Congress then started a 13-day padayatra (foot march) called 'Shri Kedarnath Pratishtha Raksha Yatra' from Haridwar on July 24. However, it had to be put on hold due to the damage caused by incessant rain on the trek route.
Former Congress state chief Ganesh Godiyal, who held the post of BKTC chairperson when Congress was in office, praised Dhami for his efforts in the trust's decision to withdraw the project but said, "Three additional steps must be taken. The initial action involves transferring the funds collected by the Delhi trust to BKTC. Subsequently, the Kedar Shila, relocated from Kedarnath to Delhi, needs to be returned. Finally, the ownership of the land intended for the temple's construction should be transferred to BKTC."
BJP media in-charge Manveer Singh Chauhan told TOI, "The party stood firm on the issue. Strict measures were taken by the CM, including passing a proposal to prevent the misuse of names of Char Dham shrines."