Uttarakhand cabinet minister’s plan to hold a grand marriage function for his son inside Rajajj Tiger Reserve (RTR) was foiled on Sunday by forest officials after a video of the ceremony at RTR’s Ranipur forest range Haridwar went viral in social media.
A social media post on the marriage ceremony of the son of Uttarakhand Cabinet Minister Khajan Dass scheduled at the Sureshwari Devi Temple located inside RTR proved detrimental to the function as it would violate forest and wildlife law.
The RTR officials thwarted the plan in view of post marriage celebrations that would have caused massive disturbances to the reserve wildlife. The officials ensured that no function other than the solemnization of marriage was held inside the forest area after marriage rituals at the temple.
The social media post based on media reports that the cabinet minister’s son was to get married at Sureshwari Temple alleged that the marriage function inside the RTR was illegal as only prayers and rituals were permitted at the temple.
The post alleged that large-scale arrangements were being made for a high-attendance event post marriage rituals at the temple scheduled for Sunday. The minister was criticised for the celebration that included use of electric generators and high-decibel sound systems that would have allegedly disrupted wildlife movements inside the protected forest cover.
It was also alleged that the function was being aided by forest officials.
The matter was immediately brought to the knowledge of senior officials in the department following which an SDO, Forest was deputed to look into the matter.
Rajeev Dhiman, acting RTR director, confirmed that a complaint against the marriage ceremony was received by his office and a team of the foresters was rushed to the spot for necessary action. After the officials reached the temple premises, they instructed the family members of the minister and people working to remove arrangements for the light and sound activities.
Reacting to the allegations of misuse of power and unlawful act by him, the minister clarified, “The event was a traditional wedding ritual followed by a Bhandara (community meal) to distribute Prasad to the guests. There were no plans for loud music or drums.”
Bhandaras were historically allowed at the temple without any issue. Khajan Dass assured that no event was held that could have impacted the forest or its wildlife at RTR.