Murli Manohar Joshi raises concerns against Modi government
Murli Manohar Joshi has expressed objections regarding a recent cultural event in Badrinath.
Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has raised several serious questions about the policies, functioning, and priorities of the Narendra Modi government in recent interviews and statements. In this context, his comment against the Uttarakhand BJP government has increased the unease among BJP leaders.
In fact, senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has objected to a cultural program recently held in Badrinath. He stated that allowing music and DJ programs in the sacred dham is a violation of cultural sanctity and affects the sanctity of the pilgrimage site. It is surprising that Joshi's comment came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the 'Bhajan Clubbing' event held in Delhi on September 25, Friday.
And this is not without reason,
In fact, on several occasions recently, Murli Manohar Joshi has openly expressed his displeasure against the policies of the Modi government. Whether it is the case of police lathi charge on students during the protest at Jantar Mantar or the NEET paper leak - senior BJP leader Joshi has expressed his anger against the Modi government.
Joshi has expressed concern over the reduction in the education budget, the closure of government schools, and increasing privatization. He also questioned why incidents like paper leaks did not occur during the tenure of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and stated that corruption is increasing under Modi's rule. Joshi has,
criticized the use of force by police during student protests in Delhi and said that brutal force against women and youth will alienate a large section of society from the government. Moreover, he had also remarked that excessive spending by the government on roads and neglect of primary education and health is not development.
According to a report by The Hindu, a two-day cultural festival titled ‘Our Heritage, Our Future’ was held on September 19 and 20 at the Tourist Arrival Plaza in Badrinath. The Indian Army and the Chamoli district administration organized it under ‘Operation Sadbhavna’. The event included cultural presentations and live music, with cultural programs held amidst loud and jarring DJ sounds. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami attended the closing ceremony.
Criticizing the same event, senior BJP leader Joshi wrote on X that,
Allowing music concerts and DJ events in Badrinath dham is a “violation of cultural sanctity” and a “direct assault” on the sanctity of the dham. He stated that Adi Guru Shankaracharya established Badrinath dham for bhajans and devotion to God in the serene environment of the Himalayas.
Joshi stated that,
There is a prohibition on blowing conch shells at this place, yet loud music events are being organized. He expressed concern that this disregards Indian spiritual, cultural, and environmental values. He also raised concerns about the potential health impact of a large number of people dancing in high-altitude areas.
Joshi described this event as a symbol of the growing ‘market culture’ in the land of the gods. He demanded that the central and Uttarakhand governments ban such events. He also appealed to Shankaracharyas, saints, and followers of Indian culture to raise their voices against it. He stated that,
Turning the Himalayas into a center for nighttime entertainment hurts the faith of millions.
It is not only senior BJP leader Joshi who has criticized this. Some saints and temple priests have also raised objections to the loud DJ music and dance performances near Badrinath dham. The controversy erupted after videos of the two-day cultural program held at Uttarakhand's Badrinath dham surfaced on social media. According to a report by Free Press,
The viral video shows a music performance on stage with people dancing in front of it. In this context, religious leaders, local stakeholders, and the opposition Congress have also raised objections to the organization of such loud music events.
Saints, religious leaders, and opposition leaders have questioned why a music program with loud sounds was organized so close to the temple, considering the religious significance of Badrinath temple and the traditional beliefs associated with it.
Brijesh Sati, General Secretary of the Char Dham Pilgrimage Priests' Mahapanchayat, has raised objections to the location chosen for the program. He stated that,
In Badrinath, Lord Vishnu is believed to be seated in a meditative posture, so traditionally caution is exercised regarding loud sounds here.
According to Sati,
Due to local beliefs and environmental reasons, there are traditions regarding the prohibition of blowing conch shells in Badrinath. Playing loud music in the entrance area of the temple is unacceptable, and organizing such an event near the temple entrance is inappropriate.
Meanwhile, Shankaracharya of Jyotirmath has also raised objections regarding the DJ and loud music near the temple. The main basis of the religious objection is that Badrinath is not just a tourist destination, but a major Hindu pilgrimage site. Therefore, public events held here should be organized keeping in mind the traditions of the temple and the religious atmosphere.
It is noteworthy that Badrinath is included among the four sacred shrines of Uttarakhand and is a major pilgrimage site dedicated to Lord Vishnu, located at an altitude of about 3,133 meters above sea level along the banks of the Alaknanda River. Every year, a large number of devotees visit here. With the increasing number of pilgrims, tourism and infrastructure in Badrinath have also expanded.
This area is part of the geographically and environmentally sensitive Himalayan region. In such a scenario, during large public events, issues such as noise pollution, crowd management, traffic, waste, and the environment become significant alongside religious traditions.