By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Facing stinging criticism, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday set up a high level inquiry into allegations of irregularities in the handling of offerings and donations at the Badrinath shrine in Uttarakhand and suspended an official the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) who was allegedly involved.
An official statement issued in the evening said Pramod Nautiyal, Personal Assistant to the Chairman, has been placed under suspension with immediate effect. Nautiyal’s name had figured in the allegations of the embezzlement.
The statement said the three-member high level committee will be headed by the Garhwal Commissioner Anand Swaroop.
The controversy has triggered a political storm in Uttarakhand, with the opposition Congress launching a sharp attack on the Pushkar Singh Dhami government. The allegations surfaced shortly after reports of alleged irregularities in the handling of donations at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, prompting the opposition to draw parallels between the two cases.
Uttarakhand Congress president Ganesh Godiyal has demanded either a judicial inquiry or an investigation by a Joint Committee of the State Assembly.
“Just as the faith of millions of followers of Sanatan Dharma was hurt by the allegations concerning the Ram Temple, a similar issue has now emerged regarding Shri Badrinath Dham. Serious allegations relating to theft inside the temple, irregularities involving precious ornaments, jewellery and devotees’ offerings have surfaced against individuals appointed by the ruling establishment. The entire matter should be investigated either by a Joint Assembly Committee or through a judicial probe,” Godiyal said.
The outcome of the high level inquiry is expected to determine whether the allegations have any substance and whether further legal or administrative action will be warranted. The move also came as the opposition is working on a plan to mount attacks on the issue.