The Ganga Sabha, which oversees the Har-ki-Pauri ghat in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Friday put up hoardings and banners stating that non-Hindus were not permitted to enter the religious site, according to reports by Hindustan Times.
Haridwar Municipal Corporation town commissioner Nandan Kumar said that the authorities had taken note of the development but had not yet issued any formal directions. He indicated that appropriate action would be initiated once the state government provided instructions.
Ganga Sabha chief Nitin Gautam defended the move by referring to a municipal bylaw dating back to 1916, framed under the guidance of freedom fighter and Congress leader Madan Mohan Malviya, which he said placed restrictions on the entry, residence and commercial activities of non-Hindus in the Har-ki-Pauri area. He maintained that the decision was taken in line with these provisions, citing a rise in visitors and instances of non-Hindus entering the ghat, Scroll.in reported.
Gautam further suggested that similar restrictions should be implemented across all other ghats in Haridwar. He reiterated that the Sabha had earlier called for a ban on the entry of non-Hindus at all 105 Ganga ghats in the city, arguing that such measures were necessary to protect the sanctity and spiritual importance of the ancient pilgrimage town. He added that informational boards announcing the prohibition had been installed on Friday.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on Thursday that the state government was examining the issue, noting Haridwar’s deep historical, religious and cultural importance. He said consultations were underway with various stakeholders, including the Ganga Sabha, religious organisations and saints, and that the government was reviewing existing laws and regulations related to Haridwar and other pilgrimage centres before arriving at a decision.
The installation of the posters sparked controversy, with Opposition parties criticising the move as unconstitutional. Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan said that India belonged to all communities and not to any single group, and argued that public religious sites could not be treated as private property. He added that the Constitution allowed all citizens to travel freely across the country and warned that such debates only fuelled social divisions.
Congress leader and former Haridwar municipal committee chairperson Satpal Brahmachari questioned the practicality of enforcing such a ban, pointing out that the Ganga ghats and the Kumbh Mela area extended up to Roorkee, where many non-Hindus lived.
Congress MLA Qazi Nizamuddin said that while bylaws should be respected, the issue was being unnecessarily politicised. He alleged that the ruling BJP in Uttarakhand was using the controversy to divert attention from governance-related concerns.
In response, Uttarakhand BJP president Mahendra Bhatt said that sentiments associated with Sanatana Dharma should be respected in matters concerning religious sites. He argued that the practice was already in place and claimed that Opposition objections were driven by appeasement politics, adding that traditions upheld by religious leaders and the local priest community should be followed.