Wed Jul 16 21:23:00 UTC 2025: **Headline: Congress Accuses BJP Government in Uttarakhand of Promoting VIP Culture After Temple Committee Chairman Takes Chopper to Kedarnath Despite Weather Ban**
**New Delhi – July 17, 2025** – The Congress party is levelling accusations of VIP favoritism against the BJP government in Uttarakhand after the Chairman of the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) allegedly took a helicopter to Kedarnath on July 14th, despite a suspension of air services due to inclement weather.
According to reports, BKTC Chairman Hemant Dwivedi, accompanied by three others, utilized a Heritage Aviation chopper for the journey. The incident has sparked an investigation by the Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority (UCADA).
Sources within UCADA confirmed that Heritage Aviation was aware of the Director General Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) guidelines, which restrict shuttle services in the Kedar Valley due to weather conditions. While Char Dham helicopter services are permitted under suitable conditions, the Congress party is questioning the exemption granted to Mr. Dwivedi.
UCADA CEO Ashish Chauhan stated that a notice has been issued to the aviation firm.
“After around half a dozen chopper accidents took place in the State during the ongoing char dham yatra, the DGCA had issued instructions to Uttarakhand’s authorised agency, UCADA, to impose a complete ban on air services during the rainy season. But BKTC president Hemant Dwivedi has not only flouted the rules by travelling to Kedarnath by helicopter, but once again openly supported the VIP culture,” said Congress spokesperson Garima Dasauni.
“This directly reflects the situation of ‘one country, two rules’ and is an example of disrespect for government rules,” she added. The Congress party argues that this incident demonstrates a double standard, where common devotees are subject to safety regulations while those in positions of power receive preferential treatment.
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