In a provocative statement, senior Congress leader Hussain Dalwai from Maharashtra has challenged actress Sara Ali Khan’s repeated visits to Kedarnath, amid new affidavit requirements for non-Hindus at the holy site. ‘If faith proof is mandatory, why go at all?’ Dalwai quipped.
The Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee announced that visitors must swear allegiance to Sanatan Dharma via affidavit. Chairman Hemant Dwivedi pointed to Sara, a known Shiva bhakt, as someone who would need to follow suit.
Sara’s spiritual side has won her admirers. From posting darshan photos to chanting mantras publicly, she’s positioned herself as Mahadev’s ardent follower. Yet Dalwai dismissed this, arguing Sanatan Dharma equates to endorsing caste hierarchies, separate from modern Hinduism.
‘People are clueless about Sanatan Dharma—it’s the religion of caste,’ Dalwai said. He urged Sara to decide: submit the affidavit or skip the pilgrimage. It’s her right, he added.
Dalwai extended his critique to other events. He condemned the Varanasi Iftar boat arrests as ‘Hitler-like oppression,’ emphasizing Ganga’s universal appeal transcends religion.
Defending Rahul Gandhi against apology calls, he stressed parliamentary freedom of speech. On the acid attack tragedy, Dalwai demanded maximum penalties for the perpetrator.
This clash highlights deepening divides over religious access in India. Temples, symbols of ancient faith, now navigate modernity’s inclusivity debates. Sara’s next move could define her public spirituality—or spark further controversy.