News Analysis India

Tag: Kanwar Yatra

  • UP CM has big heart, won’t mind cancellation of Kanwar Yatra: Uttarakhand minister

    By PTI
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand minister Subodh Uniyal on Wednesday said Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath has a “big heart” and he will not mind his government’s decision of cancelling the Kanwar Yatra amid fears of the third Covid wave.

    “We should have faith in religion but that doesn’t mean we can play with lives. The IMA had warned of a third wave. Even the prime minister had expressed concern over it. The decision to cancel Kanwar Yatra has been taken in larger public interest,” Uniyal who is also the state government’s official spokesman told reporters here.

    When asked whether the decision will go down well with the UP chief minister who is in favour of organising the yatra with minimum participation of “kanwariyas” and strict implementation of the Covid protocol, Uniyal said, “Yogiji has a big heart. He will not mind our decision.”

    “The state government is requesting not only the UP government but governments of all neighbouring states from where Kanwariyas pour into Haridwar in large numbers during the yatra to stop them at places from where they originate,” he said.

    Uniyal also said the state government will reconsider its decision on the Devasthanam Board.

    Replying to a question, the minister said the state government has made it clear that there will be a rethink on the board.

    Char Dham priests have been opposing the board since its inception, saying it is an infringement of their rights.

    The board, which controls the management of 51 temples, was constituted when Trivendra Singh Rawat was the state’s chief minister.

  • SC takes note of Yogi government’s decision to allow ‘Kanwar Yatra’, issues notice to state, Centre

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of a disturbing news on 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.

    A bench headed by Justice R F Nariman 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 as the UP government has allowed the religious ‘yatra’ commencing from July 25.

    It issued notices to the Centre and the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand while posting the matter for hearing on Friday.

    The bench, also comprising Justice B R Gavai, said that it was “little disturbed” to read that UP has chosen to continue with the Kanwar yatra, while Uttarakhand with its hindsight of experience, has decided against it.

    The apex court took suo motu of a news paper report and issued notice to the Union of India and the States of Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand to file their early response.

    “The headline (in newspaper) just above this headline speaks about the Prime Minister’s statement when he met the North-Eastern Chief Ministers that when people ask about the third wave of the COVID-19 virus striking the citizenry of India, it’s up to us to stop it and we cannot compromise “even a bit”.”

    “Given the disparate political voices, all speaking at the same time, it is important that the relevant Secretary, Union of India, respond to this news report. Given the fact that this Yatra is to take off from July 25, 2021, it is necessary to fix a short time period for this case,” the bench said.

    The top court said that affidavits be filed by Friday morning, July 16, 2021, responding to the aforesaid news article by the relevant Secretary, Union of India; Principal Secretary to the State of Uttarakhand; and Principal Secretary to the State of Uttar Pradesh.

    It directed the Registry to send a copy of this order to the Chief Justice of India forthwith.

    “We wish to know what the stand of the respective governments is,” said the bench.

    The Yogi Adityanath government on Tuesday 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-19.

    The UP Chief Minister has urged however that only a minimum number of people should participate in the annual Kanwar Yatra and directed strict implementation of the COVID-19 protocol.

    Every year, tens of thousands of ”Kanwariyas” (devotees of Lord Shiva) from northern states travel on foot or by other means to collect water from River Ganga at Haridwar to offer at Shiva temples in their areas as part of the yatra.

    Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government has cancelled the ‘Kanwar Yatra’ in view of a possible third wave.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had said that though Kanwar Yatra is part of Sanatan culture, saving lives in the time of the pandemic was paramount.

    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 to collect the holy waters of the Ganga.

  • SC takes cognisance of Uttar Pradesh govt’s decision to allow ‘Kanwar Yatra’, issues notice to state

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday took cognisance of the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to allow ‘Kanwar Yatra’ in the state in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    A bench headed by Justice R F Nariman issued a notice to the state government and posted the matter for hearing on Friday.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand government cancels Kanwar Yatra owing to COVID-19

    The Yogi Adityanath government on Tuesday 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-19.

    Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand government has cancelled the ‘Kanwar Yatra’ in view of a possible third wave.

  • Uttarakhand government cancels Kanwar Yatra owing to COVID-19

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday cancelled the Kanwar Yatra in view of a possible third wave of COVID-19.

    Cheif Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, “We have done a lot of exercise on this issue and have also discuss with the officials of the neighboring states too. After all these talks we have finally decided that we are not going to let Haridwar become a center of Covid-19 spread. People’s lives are priority for us and we are not going to take it lightly. That is why we have decided to cancel the Kanwar Yatra.”

    When asked that the Chif Minister of Uttar Pradesh has decided to start the yatra from July 25, Dhami said, “Our government has decided to cancel the yatra. We appeal everyone that because Covid 19 pandemic is still here so saving people’s lives is more important. God would also not like it if people die.”

    It is for the second consecutive year that the yatra is not being held due to the pandemic.

    The Indian Medical Association had also written to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami recently asking him to not allow the yatra to go ahead in the interest of the people of the state and the country.

    Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had said that though Kanwar Yatra is part of Sanatan culture, saving lives in the time of the pandemic was paramount.

    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 to collect the holy waters of the Ganga.

    Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Tuesday acknowledged the cultural significance of Kanwar Yatra but reiterated that his government’s priority remains saving lives amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Anoop Nautiyal from Social Development for Communities Foundation said, “This is a good decision. A big crisis has been averted. We all witnessed what happened in Mahakumbh 2021. Honorable CM is right that God would not want people to die.”

    “Kanwar is part of the Sanatan culture but saving lives is paramount. Government’s focus is to ensure that COVID does not spread,” Dhami said addressing a meeting of all morchas (wings) of the state BJP here.

    It is still uncertain whether or not the Kanwar Yatra will be held this year with the third wave of the coronavirus knocking at the country’s doors.

    Even the Indian Medical Association’s Uttarakhand chapter has written to the Chief Minister requesting him to learn from the “previous failure” and not allow Kanwar Yatra in the interest of the state and the whole country.

    People had to pay a heavy price for going off guard after the first wave which had led to a stronger and more fatal second wave, IMA Uttarakhand Secretary Amit Khanna said in a letter to Dhami.

    The Haridwar Kumbh held in April had led to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

    Dhami, who met central leaders in Delhi including the Prime Minister to discuss a range of issues, has been saying repeatedly that saving human lives is important.

    However, a categorical statement from him on whether or not the Kanwar Yatra will be held this year is still awaited.

    The fortnight-long yatra which begins with the onset of the month of Shravan around July 25 and goes on till the first week of August sees crores of Kanwariyas from neighbouring states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi gathering in Haridwar to collect the holy waters of the Ganga.

    Dhami also assured his party that the state government will finish all development work taken up within the stipulated time frame and an action plan for this is ready.

    The monsoon may cause some interruptions in the work but by August 15 all government orders (GOs) will be out, he said.

    State BJP president Madan Kaushik asked all office bearers of the morchas to stay in their areas or blocks for at least 10 days every month.

    Praising all morchas for their performance during both waves of COVID, he said they had done a commendable job by holding blood donation camps, distributing masks, sanitisers and oxygen cylinders among people, getting them vaccinated and helping them get hospital beds.

    Asking them to gear up for the assembly polls scheduled to be held early next year, Kaushik said the party members had to take the message of a young leadership and the slogan of securing 60 plus seats to the people of the state.

    (Inputs from ENS)

  • IMA urges Uttarakhand CM to ‘disallow’ Kanwar Yatra as fear of third Covid wave looms large

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand chapter of Indian Medical Association on Monday wrote to Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to disallow the proposal of Kanwar Yatra amid apprehensions of Covid third wave.

    “Sir, after the first wave, we became off-guard and could not follow the guidelines of the central government delineated for this pandemic which was a gross negligence on our part and consequently lost several of our kins in the menace of the second wave of the Covid pandemic,” said Dr Ajay Khanna, state secretary of Uttarakhand chapter of the IMA requesting the CM to ‘disallow’ the yatra. 

    The letter comes after CM’s comments that God would not want people to lose their lives. 

    The Kanwar Yatra has become an issue one with the state government of Uttar Pradesh requesting the state government to allow the Yatra with a few restrictions.

    The IMA secretary, on the behalf of the association, further added that the third wave of Covid pandemic is ready to knock on the door as per the statements of several specialists who wrote the letter, “Learning from our previous failure, we should not allow the devotees to enter our state and keep it safe from the third wave of Covid. Even our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji has today expressed concerns regarding our carelessness in following the Covid protocol.”

    Later in the day, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami reiterated: “Kanwar Yatra is a matter of faith. My decision regarding this will be taken keeping in mind people’s lives. We cannot allow this pandemic to claim the lives of the people.”

    On June 30, 2021, the state government issued orders to cancel the yatra due to the ongoing Covid situation.

    The state government had cancelled the yatra last year too in the wake of the epidemic. However, the Char Dham Yatra was allowed from June 2020 for state residents and later for residents of other states giving some respite to the sector.  

  • God wouldn’t want people to die: CM Dhami on Uttarakhand cancelling Kanwar Yatra due to Covid

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Speaking about Kanwar Yatra, newly appointed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said God would not want people to lose their lives for faith.

    “Kanwar Yatra is a matter of faith but God would not want people to lose their lives for faith. Every life is precious,” said the chief minister while talking to the media in New Delhi.

    The state government had on June 30 issued orders cancelling the yatra in view of the Covid-19 situation, but has been requested by its Uttar Pradesh counterpart to reconsider the decision.

    CM Dhami is on Delhi visit where in the last three days he has met President Kovind, Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He also met the power minister, aviation minister, BJP national president JP Nadda and many other party leaders.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand govt to send Gangajal in tankers if Kanwar yatra not allowed due to Covid situation

    Thanking the Prime Minister and all union ministers for listening as well as ‘promising’ to look into the proposals for various sectors in Uttarakhand, Dhami added, “I am thankful to the party leadership and the Prime Minister for choosing me to work for the people of Uttarakhand as the Chief Minister.”

    He further asserted that multiple developmental works have been done in last four years in the state.

    “The quality as well as quantity of the work done since the Modi govt came in Centre supersedes earlier 60 years before him. You look at Char Dham Pariyojana, you go to Dehradun from Delhi and see the roads, go to Rishikesh from Dehradun, Srinagar from Rishikesh or Karnprayag from Srinagar you will realize the volume work done. A lot of development projects are still in pipeline to transform the state,” said Dhami — the youngest CM in the history of Uttarakhand.

    Dhami added, “We passed a resolution as well as took decision in the cabinet to implement what we promised in terms of jobs. We will generate lakhs of jobs through various means including self-employment too.”

    Responding to queries related to dissent of senior cabinet members, Dhami said that no one is angry or dissatisfied.

    “We are a good team of highly experienced cabinet members. No one is junior or senior. All work as a team for welfare of the people,” said the Chief Minister.

  • God wouldn’t want people to lose lives: CM Dhami on Uttarakhand cancelling Kanwar Yatra due to Covid

    Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: Speaking about Kanwar Yatra, newly appointed Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said God would not want people to lose their lives for faith.

    “Kanwar Yatra is a matter of faith but God would not want people to lose their lives for faith. Every life is precious,” said the chief minister while talking to the media in New Delhi.

    The state government had on June 30 issued orders cancelling the yatra in view of the Covid-19 situation, but has been requested by its Uttar Pradesh counterpart to reconsider the decision.

    CM Dhami is on Delhi visit where in the last three days he has met President Kovind, Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He also met the power minister, aviation minister, BJP national president JP Nadda and many other party leaders.

    ALSO READ | Uttarakhand govt to send Gangajal in tankers if Kanwar yatra not allowed due to Covid situation

    Thanking the Prime Minister and all union ministers for listening as well as ‘promising’ to look into the proposals for various sectors in Uttarakhand, Dhami added, “I am thankful to the party leadership and the Prime Minister for choosing me to work for the people of Uttarakhand as the Chief Minister.”

    He further asserted that multiple developmental works have been done in last four years in the state.

    “The quality as well as quantity of the work done since the Modi govt came in Centre supersedes earlier 60 years before him. You look at Char Dham Pariyojana, you go to Dehradun from Delhi and see the roads, go to Rishikesh from Dehradun, Srinagar from Rishikesh or Karnprayag from Srinagar you will realize the volume work done. A lot of development projects are still in pipeline to transform the state,” said Dhami — the youngest CM in the history of Uttarakhand.

    Dhami added, “We passed a resolution as well as took decision in the cabinet to implement what we promised in terms of jobs. We will generate lakhs of jobs through various means including self-employment too.”

    Responding to queries related to dissent of senior cabinet members, Dhami said that no one is angry or dissatisfied.

    “We are a good team of highly experienced cabinet members. No one is junior or senior. All work as a team for welfare of the people,” said the Chief Minister.

  • Uttarakhand govt to send Gangajal in tankers if Kanwar yatra not allowed due to Covid situation

    By Express News Service
    DEHRADUN: With Kanwar Yatra on hold, the Uttarakhand government is planning to transport Gangajal in tankers to other states such as Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar to ensure that yatris do not miss the annual pilgrimage and are able to perform the rituals without travelling to Haridwar.

    The state government had on June 30 issued orders cancelling the yatra in view of the Covid-19 situation, but has been requested by its Uttar Pradesh counterpart to reconsider the decision.

    “In case, the yatra is not permitted due to recent strict stance of the high court on religious gatherings, the Uttarakhand government is planning to transport Gangajal in tankers to the states from where maximum number of pilgrims arrives. The final decision on the yatra will be taken soon. If it is permitted, then it will be with restrictions,” said a state government official.

    The state government had cancelled the yatra last year, too, in the wake of the pandemic which hit religious tourism in Haridwar the hardest after Char Dham Yatra. However, the Yatra was allowed from June 2020 for state residents and for residents of other states, too, since last month giving some respite to the sector. Maximum Kanwar yatris come to Haridwar from the states of Delhi, UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and MP.  In 2019, over 3.5 crore devotees had visited Haridwar in the auspicious month of Saawan.

  • Uttar Pradesh to allow Kanwar yatra this year with Covid guidelines in place

    By PTI
    LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh government will allow the annual Kanwar Yatra in the state from July 25 and officials have been asked to coordinate with neighbouring states to ensure Covid guidelines are followed, a senior official said on Wednesday.

    ‘Kanwariyas’ (devotees of Lord Shiva) collect water from River Ganga at Haridwar to offer at Shiva temples in their areas as part of the yatra.

    Uttarakhand has cancelled the yatra this year citing the pandemic.

    Uttar Pradesh Additional Chief Secretary, Navneet Sehgal told PTI that “Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked to coordinate with neighbouring Bihar and Uttarakhand and ensure Covid guidelines are following during the yatra,” Sehgal said that detailed guidelines regarding the Yatra will be issued soon and a meeting of senior officials will be held to discuss the matter.

    Uttrakhand has appealed to officers of neighbouring states to ask devotees not to come to Haridwar this month for the annual pilgrimage to collect water from the Ganga.

    The Kanwar yatra was not held in Uttar Pradesh last year due to Covid restrictions.

  • COVID-19: Uttarakhand government cancels ‘Kanwar Yatra’ to Haridwar

    By ANI
    DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand government cancelled the annual Kanwar Yatra to Haridwar in the month of Sawan due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    State government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal said the government has decided to cancel the Kanwar Yatra as a precautionary measure. Last year too, the yatra was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The ‘Kanwar Yatra’ is an annual pilgrimage of Lord Shiva’s devotees.

    This time every year during the Hindu calendar month of ‘Saavan’, thousands of devotees from across India, undertake the pilgrimage called ‘Kanwar Yatra’.

    These pilgrims visit Haridwar, Gaumukh, and Gangotri in Uttarakhand and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch the waters of river Ganga, which is is dispensed as offerings to Lord Shiva in temples.