Uttarakhand minister son's wedding at temple in Rajaji Tiger Reserve core area sparks row

DEHRADUN/HARIDWAR: A controversy erupted after preparations for wedding of Uttarakhand cabinet minister Khajan Das's son were carried out inside the core zone of Rajaji Tiger Reserve (RTR) at Sureshwari Devi temple, allegedly without formal permission from forest authorities, raising concerns over "violations of forest and wildlife norms".

On Saturday, materials for a "large setup" - a pandal, stage, coolers and generators - were taken into the reserve area, raising red flags, given that the area is an ecologically sensitive zone. As the issue escalated, the forest department registered a case against the temple committee under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for the alleged violation.

Ajay Lingwal, the warden of Haridwar forest range under RTR, said, "No permission had been granted for such an event. After receiving information, tents and other arrangements were removed on Sunday." Meanwhile, the wedding rituals were allowed to be conducted inside the temple. Officials said the wedding was "held in a restricted manner without any elaborate arrangements".

Ashish Marwari, general secretary of Ma Sureshwari Devi temple committee, said, "Wedding rituals of minister Khajan Das's son were intended to be conducted in a simple way. Tents and other arrangements were made considering the heat. The forest department officials were also informed about this." Marwari added that no mistake was made on their part and they would soon respond to the case filed against them.

Meanwhile, Das, who holds the social welfare portfolio in the Dhami govt, said he had been visiting the temple for several years and wished for his son's wedding to take place there after his recovery from an ailment, which he attributed to the deity's blessings.

He claimed he was not informed that formal permission was required.

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