Kanwar associations in Uttar Pradesh decided to call off this year’s kanwar yatra in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and experts’ warning about a third wave in the coming months. The move came after talks with state government representatives, sources said.
Additional chief secretary (information) Navneet Sehgal confirmed that the Kanwar yatra was called off for the second consecutive year after an appeal by the UP government. Undertaken annually by devotees of Lord Shiva to bring water from sacred rivers - mainly the Ganga in Haridwar - to offer it to the deity in the month of Shravan, the yatra was cancelled last year by both UP and Uttarakhand due to the pandemic.
This year, too, Uttarakhand cancelled it after drawing flak over holding Kumbh early this year. However, UP wanted to organise it in accordance with Covid protocols. The Supreme Court then took suo motu cognizance of the issue and served a notice to the UP government.
SC takes objection
Earlier, noting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that "we cannot compromise even a bit" on Covid pandemic as the third wave is lurking, the Supreme Court said it was a “little disturbed” as it took suo motu cognisance of news reports that the Uttar Pradesh government was going to allow kanwar yatra from July 25 and sought responses from the state and Centre.
Taking into account contradictory voices, including the Uttarakhand government’s decision to call off the yatra, the bench of Justices R F Nariman and B R Gavai directed the UP and Uttarakhand governments to file their response within two days.
"The headline just above this headline speaks about the Prime Minister’s statement when he met the northeastern 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," the order said.
