DEHRADUN: A day after denying any knowledge about QR-coded posters at the entrance of Badrinath and Kedarnath, the Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC), which runs the affairs of the popular shrines in Uttarakhand, said on Tuesday that “there was misunderstanding on the issue”.
The committee has now admitted that it has a tie-up with Paytm for online donations since 2018 and the firm had been putting up “small” sign boards. The state-backed BKTC also pointed out that since 2018, a total online donation of Rs 67 lakh has been received through the QR codes.
BKTC chief Ajendra Ajay had maintained in his earlier statement, as reported by TOI on Monday, that committee members “spotted the QR codes on the opening day of the Char Dham yatra and they were removed by our teams. We did an internal inquiry and it was confirmed that BKTC had nothing to do with the matter. In fact, we do not use Paytm in our financial transactions.” He had pointed out that “some unidentified persons” were behind the move.
Media in charge of BKTC Harish Gaur said on Tuesday, “It was a slight misunderstanding, but now things are clear. Paytm provides the digital platform for donations at prominent temples. In a board meeting in 2017, a proposal was passed to have the online donation facility at Kedarnath too.”
He pointed out that during the ongoing yatra, QR coded sign boards – which were big in size – were set up at the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples by Paytm.
Despite multiple attempts, Ajay could not be contacted for his comments on the controversy.
The committee has now admitted that it has a tie-up with Paytm for online donations since 2018 and the firm had been putting up “small” sign boards. The state-backed BKTC also pointed out that since 2018, a total online donation of Rs 67 lakh has been received through the QR codes.
BKTC chief Ajendra Ajay had maintained in his earlier statement, as reported by TOI on Monday, that committee members “spotted the QR codes on the opening day of the Char Dham yatra and they were removed by our teams. We did an internal inquiry and it was confirmed that BKTC had nothing to do with the matter. In fact, we do not use Paytm in our financial transactions.” He had pointed out that “some unidentified persons” were behind the move.
Media in charge of BKTC Harish Gaur said on Tuesday, “It was a slight misunderstanding, but now things are clear. Paytm provides the digital platform for donations at prominent temples. In a board meeting in 2017, a proposal was passed to have the online donation facility at Kedarnath too.”
He pointed out that during the ongoing yatra, QR coded sign boards – which were big in size – were set up at the Kedarnath and Badrinath temples by Paytm.
Despite multiple attempts, Ajay could not be contacted for his comments on the controversy.