The Shri Gangotri Temple Committee today announced that they have decided to prohibit non-Hindus from entering Gangotri Dham in Uttarakhand. The Committee members made the decision unanimously during a meeting held yesterday. The Committee Chairman, Suresh Semwal, added that the ban will also be implemented at Mukhba, the winter residence of the deity.
Also, a proposal to ban non-Hindus from entering all temples under the Temple Committee will be presented at the upcoming board meeting, according to Hemant Dwivedi, Chairman of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee.
#WATCH | Dehradun: On the ban on the entry of non-Hindus in the Shri Badrinath and Kedarnath Dhams, Hemant Dwivedi, Chairman of the Shri Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, says, “Shri Kedarnath Dham and Shri Badrinath Dham are not tourist destinations. They are the supreme… pic.twitter.com/bZuh0Lwd13
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2026
Furthermore, the Ganga Sabha and numerous seers have requested the state government to extend the ban on the entry of non-Hindus to the 105 ghats of Haridwar, spread across an area of about 120 km2. The Ganga Sabha is the authority responsible for the upkeep of the Har-ki-Pauri ghat.
Additionally, a proposal to designate the two sacred cities, Haridwar and Rishikesh, as “sanatan pavitra shehar,” is also under consideration by the state government.
Also read: Ban sought on entry of non-Hindus into Kedarnath shrine area over meat and liquor consumption
CM Dhami says, ‘Will review laws first’
In response to questions related to the Committee’s decision, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said the state government will proceed after reviewing certain laws that enacted regarding these ancient religious sites in the past. He also clarified that the opinions of all the stakeholders will be considered.
CM Dhami said, “We have already stated that, since all these religious sites are our ancient places of worship, the people who visit and manage these places, including members of our religious organizations, the pilgrimage committees, the Ganga Sabha, the Kedar Sabha, the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee, our revered saint community, and everyone else involved in managing these sites, will have their views considered.”
Inventing new agendas: Congress slams BJP
The Opposition has criticised the state government over the proposal, alleging that the BJP had no issues left on its agenda. Former Uttarakhand Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat said, “Other religions across the world attract people to their places of worship. They do not prohibit, they attract, so that the greatness and qualities of one’s religion can be accepted by other people…Now, a new tradition has been set into motion. Perhaps, there are no issues left on their election agenda. So, new agendas are being invented.”
Also, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind President Arshad Madani opposed the ban, saying his organistaion teaches people to live with love and brotherhood. He said, “They think that the country is theirs, and they can lead the public in any direction, but the times have changed… This is not just in Kedarnath… Entire colonies in Assam are being demolished and lakhs of Muslims are told to be Bangladeshi…”
#WATCH | Saharanpur, UP | On Non-Hindu prohibited to enter religious sites in Uttarakhand, Jamiat Ulama-I-Hind President Arshad Madani says, “They think that the country is theirs, and they can lead the public in any direction, but the times have changed… It is good that the… pic.twitter.com/jdOWaw2Gqw
— ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2026