The Congress on Wednesday (July 16, 2025) slammed the BJP government in Uttarakhand for promoting VIP culture in the State after Chairman of Badri-Kedar temple Committee (BKTC) took a chopper to Kedarnath despite suspension of services due to bad weather.
As per reports, BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi, along with three other persons, took a chopper to Kedarnath on July 14. Heritage aviation had organised the chopper ride.
After the matter was reported to officials, the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA) ordered an investigation.
Sources in the department confirmed that the aviation firm was informed about the guidelines of the Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA), which has totally shut the shuttle services in the Kedar valley due to the weather conditions, while the chopper services of Char Dham are allowed but that too with the riders of weather being suitable for the flight.
UCADA CEO Ashish Chauhan told The Hindu that a notice had been issued to the aviation firm.
“After around half a dozen chopper accidents took place in the State during the ongoing char dham yatra, the DGCA had issued instructions to Uttarakhand’s authorised agency, UCADA, to impose a complete ban on air services during the rainy season. But BKTC president Hemant Dwivedi has not only flouted the rules by travelling to Kedarnath by helicopter, but once again openly supported the VIP culture,” said Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni.
She said when there was a complete ban on flights for the safety of common devotees, then how and why was this special exemption given to the BKTC president.
“This directly reflects the situation of ‘one country, two rules’ and is an example of disrespect for government rules,” she added.
Published – July 17, 2025 02:53 am IST
