Friday, 17 September 2021 | PNS | Joshimath
The locals and stakeholders in Badrinath have ended their opposition following the high court order withdrawing the stay on the conduct of the Char Dham Yatra. Mauni Baba ended his protest unto death on the sixteenth day in Badrinath even as Teerth Purohits, businessmen, members of the religious fraternity and those generating income from the pilgrimage activities welcomed the decision of the court.
Opposition to the stalled pilgrimage was most visible in Badrinath where various stakeholders were on protest under the banner of the Badrish Sangharsh Samiti apart from the ascetic Mauni Baba being on a protest unto death demanding start of the pilgrimage. The ascetic broke his fast unto death with fruit juice offered by sub divisional magistrate Kusum Joshi following the high court orders.
The locals took out a rally to the beat of drums to express their gratitude for the development. The sub divisional magistrate said that as per the SOPs of the HC, Mauni Baba was tested for Covid and his vaccination certificate was checked before allowing him to pay obeisance to god Badrinath. Only he was allowed to visit the temple on Thursday as he had entered the 16th day of his fast unto death which was to be ended only after he could pay his obeisance to god Badrinath in the shrine.
