Kedarnath Temple Trust Refutes Congress Claims; Says, ‘Only 23 kg Gold Used, Not 230 kg’

The Congress is allegedly spreading false information on the use of 230 kg of gold at the Kedarnath temple, according to Ajendra Ajay, the president of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath temple committee. He stated that only 23 kg of gold had been used, accompanied by a 1,000 kg copper plate, and he promised to present the jeweler’s tax invoice as evidence.

The administration of the Shiva temple has come under fire following claims of a gold scam. Earlier, on July 15, Swami Avimukteshwaranand, the Shankaracharya of Jyotish Peeth, claimed that 228 kg of gold had disappeared from Kedarnath and named a gold scammer.

“We have been saying from the beginning that there was 23 kg of gold in the sanctum sanctorum of Kedarnath and a 1000 kg copper plate was installed in it, but some Congress leaders are spreading propaganda under the conspiracy that 230 kg gold was used in Kedarnath,” the head of the trust, Ajendra Ajay said.

Ajay labelled the accusations as politically driven and unfounded, accusing Congress of circulating these rumors ahead of the upcoming by-elections in Kedarnath.

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“As the Assembly by-elections are to be held in Kedarnath, the Congress people are spreading such propaganda without any facts and evidence. Such unfortunate and condemnable allegations are being made by the Congress and its supporters only to create a sensation,” he added.

Kedarnath, together with Badrinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri, is one of the four holy Hindu sanctuaries that make up the Char Dham.

The Uttarakhand government last month established a panel to look into claims of a ₹1.25 billion scandal involving the gold plating of the sanctum sanctorum of the Kedarnath temple.

The secretary of culture and religious affairs, Harichandra Semwal, has been instructed by the state’s minister of tourism, religion, and culture, Satpal Maharaj, to establish a high-level inquiry committee.

Technical specialists and goldsmiths will be on this group, which will be led by the Garhwal commissioner, to conduct a comprehensive investigation.

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