Bageshwar Dham chief Dhirendra Shastri addressed a controversy surrounding his travel to Chhattisgarh, reportedly on a government aircraft. The Congress party questioned the BJP-led state government's use of public funds for a private religious event. Shastri, speaking from a religious gathering, stated he is an Indian citizen and that his travel arrangements were made by others. He criticized the selective questioning of individuals promoting Sanatan values while those harming the country travel freely.