Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Jan 14: Ankur Sharma, National President, Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal (ESBD), today slammed the commercialisation of shrines across Jammu and Kashmir in general and Katra in particular.
Addressing a mega event of the party in the town, he said that it is very shameful that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine and some other shrines in Katra town have started charging money from the devotees to have darshan of the God/Goddesses.
“Government has reduced religious and spiritual institutions to mere commercial centres where it is categorising Bhakts on the basis of money they have in their pockets,” he said, while referring to fixing of price tags on Atka Aarti of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
Sharma demanded an immediate repeal of the decision fixing price tags on Atka Aarti.
Sham Singh, President Baridar Sangharsh Committee Sham Singh, who was also present on the occasion, demanded immediate steps by the Government in ensuring empowerment of the Baridar Committee. He lamented the bad condition of Baridar community and held Government and Shrine Board responsible for the same.
Ekam Sanatan Bharat Dal’s State Presidents and other office bearers from 28 States besides the Central Team of the party led by party’s National General Secretary Sandeep Deo attended the event.
Representatives of Puri Shankaracharya Nischalanand Maharaj’s Aditya Vahini, Harsh Kaushik; representatives of Shiv Shakti Dham Dasna Yati Narsimhananda, Sadhu Sants, Pujaris, heads of Mathas, were also present on the occasion.
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