Government still not clear on Kanwad Yatra, petition in supreme court. IMA also write to CM
The Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami still seems to be confused having not yet arrived at any concrete decision on the sensitive issue of Kanwad Yatra despite his significant meeting with the prime minister Narendra and union home minister Amit Shah including other senior leaders during his capital visit. Kindly recall, the previous government led by Tirath Singh Rawat has already taken a decision not to hold the Kaanwad Yatra.
His statement in yesterday’s press conference still keeps him in a confusive state of mind with the former saying that while Kanwad Yatra issue is associated with the spiritual significance of crores of Shiv bhakts but protection of lives of human beings is of utmost significance on extreme priority basis, with the government considering it as a matter of extreme priority.
He added that if human existence is at stake during these most challenging Covid 19 times, our first and foremost priority would be to protect human lives than to concentrate on any other issues though the matter of spiritual faith should also be taken care of. He said that consultations with the neighbouring states are still going on to find a solution to this ongoing issue with extreme priority, also mentioning that the previous government led by the then CM Tirath Singh Rawat had already taken a formal decision on not holding the Kanwad Yatra in Haridwar and elsewhere in Uttarakhand after learning strong lessons from the recently concluded Mahakumbh which played a role of a superspreader event in which about 70 lakh pilgrims have taken a dip in pious Ganges allegedly throwing to winds all the government stipulated regulations with regard to Covid 19.
The Kanwad Yatra issue has assumed national significance as the Supreme and Uttarakhand high court had already issued directives prohibiting the Chardham Yatras as well as the Kanwad Yatra finding them to be extremely serious super spreaders of pandemic, in the near future, as was the case in Mahakumbh in the month of April claiming several lives n infecting lakhs of people.
Meanwhile a petitioner Anu Pant, who had earlier filed a petition in Uttarakhand Highcourt pertaining to issuing directions to the state govt applying brakes on Chardham Yatra etc has approached the supreme Court yesterday through Uttarakhand high court advocate Abhijay Singh Negi praying for instructung the state government not to go ahead with Kanwad Yatra scheduled for 25 July as the govt of Uttar Pradesh has already given a green signal and Yogi Aadityanath had spoken to Uttarakhand CM Dhami trying to influence him to allow the Kaanwariyas enter Uttarakhand to perform rituals and collect Ganga Jal from Haridwar n Gangotri etc.
The petitioner Annu Pant via his counsel Abhijay Singh Negi had approached the apex court alleging that the state government has misled the Uttarakhand High Court on Kanwad Yatra despite assuring that it will not hold it this time.
The state government has already approached the Supreme court against the order of Uttarakhand High court prohibiting it for holding Chardham Yatra in the hilly state during Covid times.
In the petition, the petitioner Anu Pant has said that the state government has dishonoured the hon’ble high court by telling a lie that it is not holding the Kanwad Yatra whereas various media reports suggest that the government is actively planning to hold the Kanwad Yatra in Uttarakhand.
Meanwhile the Uttarakhand unit of Indian Medical Association has also adressed a letter to the chief minister urging him not to hold the Kanwad Yatra in view of the speculations about the third wave approaching and the cases of Delta plus also witnessed in the state.
The letter added Sir, after the first wave we became off guard and could not follow the central govt’s regulations n Covid protocols delineated for the pandemic which was a gross negligence on our part.
This resulted in the second wave assuming dangerous proportions leading to several deaths. If lessons are not leart from the Haridwar Mahakumbh, and Yatra allowed the third wave will be extremely fatal.
The prime minister is also guiding us to strictly follow Covid guidelines. Therefore the Kanwad Yatra should not be allowed to enter Uttarakhand in any case requested the Uttarakhand branch of Indian Medical Association.
It may be recalled that about three to four crore Pilgrims arrive at Haridwar and even Gangotri from Delhi, UP, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Rajastan every year to fetch pious Ganges water carrying them back to their respective destinations pouring them over Lord Shiva Lingas on pious Shiv Ratri day celebrated with pomp n show all over India.
Featured pic : Eco times
