Two Booked Over Wedding Plans of Minister's Son in Rajaji Reserve

A wedding celebration planned within the sensitive core zone of the Rajaji Tiger Reserve has sparked a swift response from Uttarakhand forest officials, leading to the booking of two temple committee office-bearers.

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We have launched an inquiry into the matter. A forest case has been registered against office-bearers of the temple committee over how the arrangements came up there, and the entire material has been removed from the area.

The elaborate preparations for the son of state minister Khajan Dass at the Sureshwari Devi Temple came to light through viral social media posts, prompting the forest department to dismantle the setup and launch an investigation. This incident highlights a concerning lapse in protocol, especially given the strict regulations governing activities within protected wildlife areas.

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No permission was sought for the event. We have also issued a show-cause notice to forest staff to explain how the material entered the core zone and whether there was any negligence at their level.

Minister Dass has dismissed the controversy as a political conspiracy, asserting that he had informed a senior forest official and that arrangements were made with the temple committee's consent. However, forest officials maintain that no permission was ever sought for such an event within the reserve's core zone, a claim that underscores the seriousness of the alleged violation.

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The allegations are politically motivated.

Rajiv Dhiman, conservator of forests and acting director of the reserve, confirmed that a probe is underway and a forest case has been registered. The department is also issuing show-cause notices to forest staff to ascertain how the materials entered the core zone and whether any negligence was involved. Action will be taken against anyone found complicit, ensuring that such breaches of environmental regulations are not taken lightly.

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People visit the temple in accordance to their faith. Our staff was aware that some event was being held there, but they did not know whose event it was. There was no indication that preparations were being made on such a grand scale.