News Analysis India

Tag: Kanwar Yatra

  • 2 Muslim brothers pose as Hindus, desecrate mazaars to stir communal tension in UP’s Bijnor

    Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Two brothers — Mohammad Adil and Mohammad Kamal — were held on Monday on charges of desecrating and vandalising three mazaars (shrines) to vitiate communal atmosphere during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra in Bijnor district of western UP.

    Both the men were spotted donning saffron turbans and destroying over 100 years old ‘Mazaars’ — Dargah Bhure Shah Baba and Jalalshah Baba along with Qutub Shah’s tomb — in Bijnor’s Sherkot area on Sunday evening. They also set on fire the ‘chaadar’ offered on the tomb.

    As per the highly-placed sources, both Adil and Kamal were being grilled by sleuths of the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad, Intelligence Bureau and Special Task Force to find out their motive behind the mischief. “A big communal conspiracy was prevented on July 24 under Sherkot Police Station limits. The district police got the information was received about two people ransacking Jalal Shah Mazar and burning several ‘chadar’,” said ADG (Law and order) Prashant Kumar.

    “No doubt motive was to disrupt communal harmony. They attempted this on key day of Kanwar. Had police not been vigilant, it could have led to something serious. Case has been registered against both the accused and investigation is on,” said Prashant Kumar, ADG (Law & Order).

    The ADG claimed that there were initial reports of desecration of a few religious books also but investigation showed that no damage to the religious inscriptions was done.

    “No damage done to religious texts,” he emphasised. According to Kumar, the two accused are brothers by relation and had earlier desecrated the Qutub Shah Mazar in Sherkot.

    “This whole matter shows attempts to soil the atmosphere amid the Kanwar Yatra. Field officers instructed to be more alert; continuous social media monitoring also underway,” ADG Kumar emphasised.

    According to ADG (Law and Order), the information received so far claimed that accused Kamal had travelled to many countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the investigation agencies would also probe this angle. Apart from the ATS, IB and STF, other central agencies are also expected to interrogate the men.

    The incident came to light when some passers-by spotted the brothers carrying out the rampage and informed the police. Soon, the Bijnor DM and SP reached the spot and ordered to start the repair work on the three vandalized tombs immediately in order to avert a sensitive situation that could have snowballed into a big controversy and communal flare-up.

    The timing of the incident is also suspect since it came just a day before Shivratri of Saawan month on Tuesday when huge movement of ‘Kanwariyas’ would be observed.

    LUCKNOW: Two brothers — Mohammad Adil and Mohammad Kamal — were held on Monday on charges of desecrating and vandalising three mazaars (shrines) to vitiate communal atmosphere during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra in Bijnor district of western UP.

    Both the men were spotted donning saffron turbans and destroying over 100 years old ‘Mazaars’ — Dargah Bhure Shah Baba and Jalalshah Baba along with Qutub Shah’s tomb — in Bijnor’s Sherkot area on Sunday evening. They also set on fire the ‘chaadar’ offered on the tomb.

    As per the highly-placed sources, both Adil and Kamal were being grilled by sleuths of the UP Anti-Terrorist Squad, Intelligence Bureau and Special Task Force to find out their motive behind the mischief. “A big communal conspiracy was prevented on July 24 under Sherkot Police Station limits. The district police got the information was received about two people ransacking Jalal Shah Mazar and burning several ‘chadar’,” said ADG (Law and order) Prashant Kumar.

    “No doubt motive was to disrupt communal harmony. They attempted this on key day of Kanwar. Had police not been vigilant, it could have led to something serious. Case has been registered against both the accused and investigation is on,” said Prashant Kumar, ADG (Law & Order).

    The ADG claimed that there were initial reports of desecration of a few religious books also but investigation showed that no damage to the religious inscriptions was done.

    “No damage done to religious texts,” he emphasised. According to Kumar, the two accused are brothers by relation and had earlier desecrated the Qutub Shah Mazar in Sherkot.

    “This whole matter shows attempts to soil the atmosphere amid the Kanwar Yatra. Field officers instructed to be more alert; continuous social media monitoring also underway,” ADG Kumar emphasised.

    According to ADG (Law and Order), the information received so far claimed that accused Kamal had travelled to many countries, including Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and the investigation agencies would also probe this angle. Apart from the ATS, IB and STF, other central agencies are also expected to interrogate the men.

    The incident came to light when some passers-by spotted the brothers carrying out the rampage and informed the police. Soon, the Bijnor DM and SP reached the spot and ordered to start the repair work on the three vandalized tombs immediately in order to avert a sensitive situation that could have snowballed into a big controversy and communal flare-up.

    The timing of the incident is also suspect since it came just a day before Shivratri of Saawan month on Tuesday when huge movement of ‘Kanwariyas’ would be observed.

  • Unauthorised liquor, meat shops to remain closed along Kanwar Yatra route

    By Express News Service

    LUCKNOW: Ahead of the commencement of the Kanwar yatra that takes place during the month of Sawan, all unauthorised shops selling liquor and meat will be shut down along the yatra route in Gautam Budh Nagar from July 14 to 26, it has been decided.

    As per the directives of Noida district magistrate, officials will survey the entire route to spot such unauthorised shops.

    The kanwariya movement is concentrated between Ghaziabad and Greater Noida in Gautam Budh Nagar. There are two routes in Dadri, three in Jarcha, and one each in Dankaur, Kasna, Jewar and Rabupura.

    According to Noida DM Suhas LY, the purpose behind shutting down all unauthorised liquor and meat shops along the Kanwar Yatra route is to ensure an incident-free, smooth yatra.

    ALSO READ | Two Muslim brothers serve Amarnath pilgrims, send out message of communal harmony

    The district administration officials claimed that it was imperative to ensure maintenance of law and order without any congregation of miscreants along the route. Officials said that while most of the liquor shops were legal, meat shops usually do not have any license to operate and fell in the unauthorised category.

    Even the Noida police commissionerate is geared up for the upcoming Yatra commencing from the first day of Sawan on July 14.

    The police department has provided the district administration a list of puddles, dark spots, broken and waterlogged patches on roads, mounds of garbage needing removal, street light poles without bulbs to be rectified before the commencement of the Yatra.

    The DM has instructed the authorities concerned in different departments to take necessary action.

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    As per joint commissioner Love Kumar, the entire route had been surveyed and there has been an adequate deployment of personnel to ensure that the law-and-order situation was maintained.

    The DM clarified that on specific dates when the Kanwariya movement will be high, all shops selling liquor and meat will be asked to remain shut. This will be done with the aid of the police department.

    Kanwar yatra will be held this year between July 14 and July 26. It is an annual pilgrimage of Shiva devotees, known as Kanwariyas, to Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch Ganga waters which they then take back to their respective areas to anoint Shiv lingams in temples during Sawan.

  • No kanwar yatra/shravan mela in Jharkhand’s Deoghar

    By PTI
    DEOGHAR/RANCHI: Eastern India’s one of the biggest religious congregations – the month-long shravani mela at Deoghar and kanwar yatra attached to it- stand cancelled for the second consecutive time this year amid COVID-19 pandemic due to which visit to religious places has been prohibited, officials said on Wednesday.

    The month of shravan begins from July 25 this year and to stop devotees from coming to the temple and prevent gathering of kanwarias at the famous Baba Baidyanath temple at Deoghar, considered one of the 12 Jyotirlingas, the district administration has erected five check posts,officials said.

    “Shravani mela has been cancelled this year in view of COVID-19 pandemic. Arrangements are being done for online virtual darshan of Baba Baidyanath during Shravan,” Deputy Commissioner Deoghar Manjunath Bhajantri said.

    After Uttrakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, Jharkhand is the latest to call off kanwar yatra by devotees in view of the pandemic.

    A delegation of various religious bodies including the President of Panda Dharmarakshini Sabha, members and representatives of Teerth-Priests Society met the Deputy Commissioner,Additional Collector, Deoghar Chadra Bhushan Prasad Singh and they were told about the decision.

    The administration has made checkposts at five entry points – Andhrigather, Dardmara, Khoripanan, Jaipur More and Jamua to prevent entry of devotees for ‘jalabhishek’.

    The officials said wide publicity is being done through railway officials and others to spread the message that devotees are prohibited inside temple and ‘jalarpan’ (offering water) is not allowed.

    Officials have also been asked to barricade the areas around the temple to prevent assembling of crowd.

    Prior to COVID-19 the mega event used to be frequented by lakhs of devotees across the country who used to turn-up to offer prayer to Lord Shiva at Baidyanath temple.

    The Jharkhand government had on June 30 extended the coronavirus lockdown-like restrictions for the eighth time till further orders with a provision that “all religious places/places of worship are permitted to open but visitors are prohibited”.

    Director General of Police, Jharkhand, Neeraj Sinha last week had told PTI: “We have deployed police force at Bihar borders and Deoghar borders to avoid congregations.

    ” Each year, during the rainy season, devotees in many states undertake kanwar yatra to collect water from the Ganga and other rivers and offer it at the temples of Lord Shiva in major pilgrim centres.

    Kanwarias in the eastern region undertake a 100-km trek carrying ganga water from Sultanganj in Bihar to offer it to lord Shiva at the Deoghar temple.

    Last year also the government had withheld permission for sharavani mela and prohibited kanwar yatra during nationwide lockdown.

    The Jharkhand government this year had hold back permission for the Ratha Yatra festival at the Jagannath temple in Ranchi The latest order of the Jharkhand disaster management department mentions, “All indoor and outdoor congregation of more than 50 persons are prohibited in the state including marriage and last rites related activities.

    “Besides, all processions are prohibited in the state. All fairs and exhibitions are banned till further orders”.

    Also the bus transport in the state has been permitted for only intra-state movements and not inter-state movement.

  • SC rejects plea for full-fledged annual pilgrimage to Lord Vitthal temple in Maharashtra

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court Monday refused to entertain a plea challenging denial of permission by the Maharashtra government on the ground of COVID-19 situation to hold annual pilgrimage by ‘warkaris’ of ‘Sant Namdev Maharaj Sansthan’ and other organisations to Lord Vitthal temple at Pandharpur in the state.

    As per practice, pilgrims called as ‘warkaris’, along with over 250 ‘Palki’ undertake the pilgrimage by foot from their respective natives places to the Lord Vitthal temple at Pandharpur.

    Considering the pandemic situation in mind, the state government has put restrictions including the fact that now 10 ‘palki’ can be taken to the temple.

    The plea said the state government has arbitrarily denied the permission which has violated the fundamental rights of devotees.

    “You know the pandemic. You know the situation in the country. And, you want that there should be no restrictions. Sorry, we cannot do this,” a bench comprising Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justices A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy said.

    “Sant Namdev Maharaj Sansthan’, in its plea, said the pilgrims from Maharashtra, Chattishgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Kamataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana will face a lot of hardship in completing their ‘wari’ (pilgrimage) , which normally starts froth their home to the Temple of Lord Vitthal, since the Maharashtra has allowed only 10 ‘palki’ to perform the ritual.”

    “The Violation of Article 14, 19(1) (d), 21 and 25 of the Constitution. The State of Maharashtra has arbitrarily denied the permission to perform the Vari. The wari is an age-old tradition. Last year in the wake of Corona the ‘warkaris’ themselves had not pressed. But this year, people are more aware about the disease and would follow the protocol”.

    on Monday closed the matter related to Kanwar Yatra in Uttar Pradesh and asked the authorities to ensure that any untoward incident directly affecting the lives of the public shall be looked upon sternly and prompt action would be taken immediately.

    The apex court took note of Uttar Pradesh government’s submission that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic Kanwar Sanghs of various districts will voluntarily not take out any Yatra and they have postponed it this year keeping in mind the health and safety of public.

    “Considering that the pattern of last year is to be followed by the state of Uttar Pradesh, in which it is clear that the “Kanwar Sanghs’ of the various districts have given in writing their consent that, in view of the health and safety of the public, the Kanwar yatra will be postponed this year also, it is necessary now to close this matter,” a bench of Justices R F Nariman and B R Gavai said.

    “We may only remind the authorities at all levels to have regard to Article 144 of the Constitution of India and ensure that untoward incidents which directly affect the lives of the public will be looked upon sternly and prompt action taken immediately, reminding the authorities of a paragraph in our order dated July 16, 2021, which is set out once again, given the importance of the Citizens’ of India’s Right to Life,” the bench said in its order.

    The bench noted the paragraph from its July 16 order in which it had said that health of the citizenry of India and their right to “life” are paramount and all other sentiments, albeit religious, are subservient to this most basic fundamental right.

    The top court had last week taken suo motu cognisance of earlier media reports on Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to allow Kanwar Yatra amid the pandemic.

    Senior advocate C S Vaidyanathan, appearing for Uttar Pradesh, referred to the July 19 additional affidavit.

    The affidavit said that pursuant to the court’s July 16 order, the state government again convened a meeting of UP State Disaster Management Authority on July 17 under the chairmanship of Chief Minister.

    It said additional chief secretary, Home, informed the authority that in response to state’s appeal, all Kanwar Sanghs have given positive response and police commissioners, divisional commissioners, district magistrates/SSPs/SPs have clearly given their report that Kanwar Sanghs have given in writing their consent that in view of health and safety of public, Kanwar Yatra will be postponed by them this year also.

    It said state disaster management authority took cognizance of reports received from various districts and made recommendations, including that “SDMA agreed with the offer of the Kanwar Sanghs and welcomes their proposal that they will voluntarily not take out any Kanwar Yatra in the current year and they themselves have postponed the Kanwar Yatra. From this, it is clear that like last year i.e.2020, this year also there is no possibility of Kanwar Yatra.”

    It said last year at the same time, COVID-19 graph was on an increase whereas this year, it is at its lowest with positivity rate being only 0.042 per cent.

    “Last year also, keeping in view the decision of Sanghs to defer the Kanwar Yatra, no orders were issued to restrict the Kanwar Yatra and no adverse situation had arisen. Therefore, the SDMA advised that like last year, keeping in view the decision of Kanwar Sanghs to voluntarily defer the Kanwar Yatra this year also, there is no necessity to issue any orders restricting Kanwar Yatra,” it said.

    It said SDMA has recommended that if at local level, any devotee goes to local temple for ‘Jalabhishek’, it will be necessary for them to fully comply with existing COVID-19 protocol regarding religious ceremonies.

    “SDMA also considered the fact that if orders are issued to restrict/ban the Kanwar Yatra, then demand can be raised to restrict other religious ceremonies of other religions /communities due to which social order could be affected,” it said.

    It said all religious organisations are giving their full support and priests (dharam gurus) have also made appeals to comply with COVID protocol.

    “The neighbouring states where restrictions have been placed/not placed on Kanwar Yatra, will ensure that Kanwar devotees from their respective states do not enter in the state of Uttar Pradesh and Government of India should be requested to issue directions to this effect,” it said while referring to recommendations.

    During the hearing conducted through video-conferencing, Vaidyanathan said governments of Delhi and Uttarakhand have already said they would not allow Kanwar Yatra this year.

    The bench also heard senior advocate K Radhakrishnan who intervened and requested the court to see that the Centre and states are vigilant and not complacent so that infectious or contagious diseases which have inter-state ramifications are fully contained.

    “We appreciate the concern of Radhakrishnan and have addressed this concern in the preceding paragraph,” the bench noted.

    The Centre had earlier told the top court that state governments must not permit any kind of “Kanwar yatra” in view of the pandemic and arrangements should be made for water from the Ganges to be available through tankers at designated places.

    The fortnight-long yatra, which begins with the onset of the month of Shravan by the Hindu calendar goes on till the first week of August, and sees a large gathering of Kanwariyas in Haridwar from neighbouring states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

  • COVID-19: Kanwar Yatra, Shravani Mela unlikely in Jharkhand’s Deoghar

    By PTI
    RANCHI/DEOGHAR: Eastern India’s one of the biggest religious congregations – the month-long Shravani mela at Deoghar and kanwar yatra attached to it- are unlikely to take place for the second consecutive time this year amid COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions that include ban on visiting religious places of worship.

    The month of Shravan begins from July 25 this year but so far there has been no preparations from the side of Deoghar district administration, an indication that the state government will not allow the fair and gathering of kanwarias at the famous Baba Baidyanath temple at Deoghar, considered one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.

    The government is yet to come out with a formal order on the mega event when lakhs of devotees across the country turn-up to offer prayer to Lord Shiva at Baidyanath temple, but there are indications that the event would be a no-show this year too like last occasion.

    The Jharkhand government had on June 30 extended the coronavirus lockdown-like restrictions for the eighth time till further orders with a provision that “all religious places/places of worship are permitted to open but visitors are prohibited”.

    Director General of Police, Jharkhand, Neeraj Sinha said on Saturday people should follow and respect the curbs imposed by the government in the light of COVID pandemic.

    “We have deployed police force at Bihar borders and Deoghar borders to avoid congregation,” Sinha told PTI.

    Each year, during the rainy season, devotees in many states undertake kanwar yatra to collect water from the Ganga and other rivers and offer it at the temples of Lord Shiva in major pilgrim centres.

    Kanwarias in the eastern region undertake a 100-km trek carrying ganga water from Sultanganj in Bihar to offer it to lord Shiva at the Deoghar temple.

    Asked about any such measures on the pattern of Uttarakhand where the police chief Ashok Kumar has announced that ‘Kanwarias’ (devotees of Lord Shiva) entering Haridwar despite the suspension of the kanwar yatra will be quarantined for 14 days, Sinha said decision in this regard comes under purview of the state disaster management authority.

    Last year also the government had withheld permission for sharavani mela and prohibited kanwar yatra during nationwide lockdown.

    The Uttarakhand government has cancelled the annual kanwar yatra in view of the looming threat of a third wave of COVID- 19.

    The Supreme Court has asked Uttar Pradesh to reconsider its decision on holding kanwar yatra.

    The Jharkhand government this year had withheld permission for the Ratha Yatra festival at the Jagannath temple in Ranchi on July 12 in view of the pandemic and Chief Minister Hemant Soren had appealed to the masses to worship lord Jagannath while at home.

    Soren who had reached the temple had worshipped from outside and subsequently issued directions to close the temple doors for visitors.

    The latest order of the Jharkhand disaster management department mentions, “All indoor and outdoor congregation of more than 50 persons are prohibited in the state including marriage and last rites related activities.

    “Besides, all processions are prohibited in the state. All fairs and exhibitions are prohibited” till further orders”.

    Also the bus transport in the state has been permitted for only intra-state movements and not inter-state movement.

    When contacted Deoghar officials said that they will act as per the directions of the disaster management authority.

    Reports from Deogarh said that the doors of the temple are shut for the devotees.

    But, many locals are performing religious events like ‘mundan” (head tonsure) outside the world-famous shrine.

    Jharkhand’s COVID-19 tally has risen to 3,46,588 while the death toll stood at 5,120.

  • Day after SC rapping, Yogi government cancels Kanwar Yatra in Uttar Pradesh

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: The annual Kanwar Yatra in Uttar Pradesh has been cancelled this year, a senior government official said here on Saturday night.

    The development came a day after the Supreme Court said it cannot allow the Uttar Pradesh government “to hold 100 per cent physical Kanwar Yatra in view of Covid”, stressing that sentiments, including religious, are subservient to the Right to Life.

    “The Kanwar Yatra has been cancelled by the Kanwar Sanghs on the appeal of the Uttar Pradesh government,” Additional Chief Secretary Information Navneet Sehgal said on Sunday.

    The yatra was scheduled to start on July 25.

    The Uttarakhand government has already called off the Kanwar Yatra citing fears expressed by experts of a possible third wave of the pandemic and the risk posed by such gatherings.

    The yatra goes on till the first week of August and sees thousands of Shiva devotees called kanwariyas’ travelling mostly on foot from neighbouring states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi to collect water from the Ganges in Haridwar.

    The Centre had told the top court that the state governments must not permit any kind of Kanwar yatra because of the pandemic and arrangements should be made for water from the Ganges to be available through tankers at designated places.

    On Friday, the Supreme Court which had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to inform by July 19 whether it would reconsider its decision to hold a “symbolic” Kanwar Yatra.

    Hours after a nudge from the Supreme Court on Friday, the Uttar Pradesh government had said it is talking with “kanwar sanghs” to take the right decision on the annual yatra and reminded that the organisations themselves decided to cancel it last year.

    In a statement, the UP government had said that it was preparing itself for every situation for the Kanwar Yatra, scheduled to start from July 25.

    “Officers have been asked to talk to ‘kanwar sanghs’ so that a right decision could be taken. The officers are also apprising them of the Covid situation.”

    “The government feels that religious sentiments should not be hurt and also there should be the safety of people. Last year, ‘kanwar sanghs’ after talks with the government themselves decided to cancel the yatra,” it had said.

    A Supreme Court bench of Justices R F Nariman and B R Gavai had said the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution is paramount and asked the Uttar Pradesh government whether it was willing to reconsider its decision to hold a yatra at all.

    “We are of the view that this is a matter which concerns every one of us as citizens of India and goes to the very heart of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which has a pride of place in the fundamental rights chapter of our Constitution.

    “The health of the citizenry of India and their right to life are paramount. All other sentiments, albeit religious, are subservient to this most basic fundamental right,” the bench had said.

    Eighty-one people tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, pushing the infection count to 17,07,822 in the state, while the death toll climbed to 22,715 with six fresh fatalities being reported.

    One death each was reported from Agra, Hapur, Amethi, Ambedkar Nagar, Auraiya and Jalaun, the state government’s health bulletin said.

    Among the fresh cases, 12 are from Lucknow, seven from Unnao, and six from Allahabad, it showed, adding that 106 more people have recovered from the disease in the state.

    The total number of recoveries has reached 16,83,797, and the recovery rate of the state is now at 98.6 per cent, the bulletin stated.

    The number of active cases currently stands at 1,310, of which 1,114 are in home-isolation, it added.

    An official spokesperson said 40 districts reported no new case of COVID-19 infection since Friday, whereas 34 districts reported new cases in single digits.

    So far, over 6.21 crore samples have been tested for COVID-19 in the state, including 2.63 lakh on Friday, the bulletin said.

  • Talking to ‘kanwar sanghs’ to reach right decision: Yogi government on annual yatra

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: Hours after a nudge from the Supreme Court, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday said it is talking with “kanwar sanghs” to take a “right decision” on the annual yatra and reminded that the organisations “themselves” decided to cancel it last year.

    The statement has come as the Supreme Court on Friday asked the state government to inform it by July 19 whether it would reconsider its decision to hold a “symbolic” Kanwar Yatra.

    “The government was preparing itself for every situation for the Kanwar Yatra, scheduled to start from July 25. The government did not want to take any risk. Officers have been asked to talk to ‘kanwar sanghs’ so that a right decision could be taken. The officers are also apprising them of the Covid situation,” a statement issued here said.

    “The government feels that religious sentiments should not be hurt and also there should be safety of people. Last year, ‘kanwar sanghs’ after talks with government themselves decided to cancel the yatra,” the statement said.

    The statement said Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and the Director General of Police (DGP) to talk to other states.

    On, state government’s request, the SC has posted the matter for Jul 19, it said.

    The fortnight-long yatra, which begins with the onset of the month of Shravan as per the Hindu calendar goes on till the first week of August and sees a large gathering of people in Haridwar from neighbouring states, including Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi.

  • COVID fear: Borders of Uttarakhand to be sealed for Kanwariyas from July 24

    By PTI
    DEHRADUN: The borders of Uttarakhand will be sealed for Kanwariyas from July 24.

    The Uttarakhand government has decided to suspend the Kanwar Yatra for the safety of people in view of the looming threat of the third wave of COVID-19.

    The borders of the state will be sealed for Kanwariyas from July 24, Uttarakhand Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar said.

    However, barring Kanwariyas, there will be no restriction on the movement of others, he added.

    With the start of the month of Shravan in the Hindu calendar on July 25, Kanwariyas begin to pour into Haridwar in large numbers to collect the holy water of the Ganga.

    However, as the yatra has been suspended by the state government, Kanwariyas will be stopped at the state’s borders and returned from there.

    The DGP asked police officials to strictly implement the order, saying if a Kanwariya enters Haridwar defying the suspension, he should be put under forced quarantine for 14 days.

    The places where they would be kept in quarantine should be identified in advance, he said.

    Police officials were also asked to prepare a standard operating procedure (SOP) in consultation with the district magistrates concerned in view of the suspension of the Kanwar Yatra.

    The DGP said if a Kanwariya is seen on the road, he should be sent back by bus or some other means of transport.

    He also ordered the formation of Kanwar enforcement teams in Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri and Pauri districts to patrol the streets and enforce law and order during the period of the banned Kanwar Mela.

    Kanwariyas coming by train to Haridwar should be asked to deboard at stations before Haridwar and sent back in buses.

    The DGP said the IG (law and order) should hold a meeting in Haridwar with DIG-level officials of the neighbouring states to discuss how water from the Ganga can be sent to their states in tankers.

    Meetings should be held with the Kanwar associations and committees to apprise them of the suspension of the yatra and records of such meetings should be kept at the police stations concerned so that action can be taken against the violators under the Epidemic Diseases Act.

    Shopkeepers in districts should be asked not to sell items related to the Kanwar Yatra, the DGP said.

    However, the state police chief said those coming to Haridwar for immersing ashes should not be stopped.

    The Uttarakhand government decided to suspend the Kanwar Yatra on Tuesday in view of the looming threat of a third wave of COVID-19.

  • ‘Right to life is paramount’: SC asks UP to reconsider its stand on conducting ‘symbolic’ Kanwar Yatra

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Uttar Pradesh government to apprise it by July 19 on whether it would reconsider its decision to hold a “symbolic” Kanwar Yatra in the state, saying the right to life is paramount.

    A bench of Justices RF Nariman and B R Gavai said that it is of the prima face view that all kinds of sentiments are subservient to Article 21 of the Constitution.

    It said the “Uttar Pradesh government cannot be allowed to hold Kanwar Yatra in view of Covid”.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand: Haridwar police warn of action against those trying to enter district for Kanwar Yatra

    The top court’s direction came after the Uttar Pradesh government told the bench that it has decided after relevant discussions to hold a “symbolic” Kanwar Yatra with appropriate Covid restrictions.

    Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Centre told the top court that states shall not be allowed to hold Kanwar Yatra in view of Covid and arrangements for Ganga water should be made by tankers at specified places.

    The counsel for Uttarakhand told the top court that it has by its notification has decided to ban Kanwar Yatra for this year due to COVID-19.

    On July 14, the top court had had taken suo motu cognisance of media reports on the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to allow ‘Kanwar Yatra’ amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and sought responses from the state as well as the Centre “given the disparate political voices” on the matter.

    It had referred to the statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that not even a bit of compromise can be made on COVID-19 containment and said the citizens were perplexed about the happenings in view of the fact that the UP government has allowed the religious ‘yatra’ commencing from July 25.

    It had issued notices to the Centre and the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

  • ‘Kanwariyas’ entering Haridwar despite ban on yatra to be quarantined for two weeks: Uttarakhand DGP

    By PTI
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand police chief Ashok Kumar Thursday said the ‘Kanwariyas’ entering Haridwar despite the suspension of the Kanwar Yatra this year will be quarantined for 14 days.

    The director general of police held a meeting with senior police officials here on effectively enforcing the suspension and asked them to identify places in and around Haridwar where such ‘Kanwariyas’ (devotees of lord Shiva) can be kept under quarantine.

    He also ordered the formation of Kanwar enforcement teams in Haridwar, Dehradun, Tehri and Pauri districts to patrol the streets and enforce law and order during the period of the banned Kanwar mela.

    The DGP said if a ‘Kanwariya’ is seen on the road, he or she should be sent back by a bus or some other means of transport.

    Police officials were also asked to prepare SOPs in consultation with district magistrates in view of the suspension of the annual ritual.

    ‘Kanwariyas’ coming by trains to Haridwar will be forced to deboard at stations before Haridwar and sent back in buses, he said.

    He said IG (law and order) should hold a meeting in Haridwar with DIG-level officials of neighbouring states to discuss how Ganga water can be sent in tankers to their states.

    Meetings should be held with Kanwar associations and committees to apprise them about the suspension of the yatra and a record of such meetings kept at police stations concerned so that action can be taken against violators under the epidemic act, he said.

    Shopkeepers in districts should be asked not to sell items related to Kanwar Yatra, he said.

    However, the DGP said those coming to Haridwar for immersing ashes should not be stopped.

    The Uttarakhand government cancelled the Kanwar Yatra on Tuesday in view of the looming threat of a third wave of COVID-19.

    Governments and people should together take all the steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Delhi Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Thursday, referring to the “Kanwar Yatra”.

    The Supreme Court issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday for allowing the “Kanwar Yatra” in the state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “The Covid pandemic is a very serious matter. All governments and the people should take all those steps necessary to fight it,” Kejriwal said when asked for his views on the “Kanwar Yatra” during the pandemic on the sidelines of an event at the Delhi Assembly.

    The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has allowed the “yatra” from July 25, despite concerns raised in various quarters over the risk posed by such events in triggering a possible third wave of Covid.

    However, another BJP-ruled state, Uttarakhand, has cancelled the “yatra”.

    Each year, during the rainy season, devotees in many states undertake the “Kanwar Yatra” to collect water from the Ganga and other rivers and offer it at the temples of Lord Shiva in major pilgrim centres.