A fresh political storm has erupted after the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) announced that non-Hindus will not be allowed to enter the sacred Badrinath–Kedarnath Dham. Reacting sharply to the decision, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the BJP of promoting division and using religion as a political weapon.
Speaking to the media, Akhilesh Yadav said such moves reveal a dangerous mindset. “Today, these BJP people are speaking in favour of someone else, tomorrow they will speak against us,” he remarked, warning that exclusionary politics ultimately turns on everyone. He questioned whether such actions align with India’s constitutional values, asking, “Can such things happen in India?”
Yadav recalled past incidents to underline his point, saying, “We have even seen the time when they washed the Chief Minister’s residence with Ganga Jal.” According to him, these symbolic acts are not about faith but about deepening social divisions. “This is their way of spreading hatred,” he added.
The Samajwadi Party leader claimed that such decisions would have serious political consequences for the BJP. Confident about the opposition’s prospects, Yadav asserted, “In Uttar Pradesh, they will lose every Lok Sabha seat.” He further predicted setbacks for the ruling party beyond the state, saying the BJP would also “face defeat in Bengal.”
The BKTC’s announcement has triggered reactions from various political quarters, with critics arguing that religious places should not become tools for political messaging. Supporters of the move, however, claim it is about preserving the sanctity of the shrines. Akhilesh Yadav rejected this argument outright, insisting that faith cannot be protected by exclusion.
He emphasized that India’s strength lies in its diversity and coexistence, and warned that policies driven by fear and identity politics damage the country’s social fabric. According to him, voters are increasingly seeing through such tactics, and the upcoming elections will reflect public anger against divisive agendas.
