India, March 19 -- The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee (BKTC) has announced that non-Hindus wishing to enter the Badrinath Temple and Kedarnath Temple complexes will now need to submit an affidavit swearing faith in the 'Sanatan' religion, according to BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi.

The committee, which oversees major Himalayan shrines that see lakhs of pilgrims during the Char Dham Yatra, approved the proposal on March 10 to restrict entry to only those who follow Sanatan Dharma, including access to the garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum).

He added that a standardized format for the affidavit has already been drafted.

Political reactions

The decision has sparked criticism and debate across political lines. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind S...