No Tax for Himachali Devotees Visiting Churdhar Temple: CM Sukhu

Shimla, May 3: Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has clarified that no tax will be levied on devotees from Himachal Pradesh visiting the revered Churdhar Temple in Sirmaur district. He stated that clear instructions have already been issued to the concerned authorities on this matter.

Speaking to the media in New Delhi, the Chief Minister said that there is no tax in place for Himachali pilgrims heading to Churdhar. He emphasized that certain guidelines, including nominal fees, have been introduced for outside tourists solely to protect the environment and promote eco-tourism, in line with High Court directives.

CM Sukhu pointed out the pressing need to preserve sensitive ecological zones like Churdhar. “Many tourists leave behind plastic waste like water bottles and snack wrappers, which causes serious damage to the fragile mountain environment,” he said. He added that the High Court has consistently issued guidelines for such eco-sensitive zones, and the state government is acting accordingly.

BJP Slams the Government

The opposition BJP has seized the issue to criticize the Congress-led government. BJP national spokesperson Prem Shukla accused the government of hurting religious sentiments by allegedly imposing a tax on pilgrims visiting Churdhar. “Shirgul Maharaj is the revered deity of the region, and locals have a longstanding tradition of offering the first share of their harvest to him,” Shukla said.

In a sharp statement, he added, “Aurangzeb once taxed devotees with the jizya; now the Congress government has imposed a tax even on horses and mules. This is a direct assault on faith.”