Meerut: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said some people are trying to defame the kanwar yatra on social media and urged every ‘kanwar sangh’ to expose such troublemakers.
Addressing an event here, Adityanath said, “Troublemakers have resorted to defame this holy pilgrimage… We have CCTV footage of all of them. We are going to paste their posters after this (kanwar yatra) is over.”
He added, “We have to keep in mind that where there is enthusiasm and excitement, where there is faith and devotion, some elements are constantly trying to disturb that enthusiasm and to defame this devotion and faith.”
Social media is replete with videos showing apparent kanwar yatris, wearing the saffron associated with them, creating ruckus on roads, ransacking hotels, damaging vehicles, and beating civilians.
Adityanath claimed these are “miscreants” who infiltrate kanwar groups and bring them bad names.
“Unmask them, keep them away from you at all costs. Do not allow them to enter your circle. Immediately inform the administration about this,” he said.
The chief minister said there is administration to take legal action if any such “miscreant” desecrates the kanwar, as he urged people not to take into their hands.
Adityanath alleged that before 2017, the year he came to power, the governments in UP did not allow these pilgrimages to happen and create obstacles in their path.
“But, today there are governments that respect your devotion. So it is our responsibility to take it forward with the same sacred sentiment,” he said.
He also urged the kanwariyas to join in cleanliness programmes, and strive to not let any river, intersection, or road become dirty.
On Friday too, Adityanath had said that efforts were being made to defame kanwar pilgrims and they are being termed “terrorists and rioters.”
Three kanwariyas were arrested for allegedly assaulting a CRPF jawan following an argument over train tickets at the Mirzapur railway station here, an official said on Sunday.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was going to catch the Brahmaputra Express, while the kanwariyas also wanted to buy tickets for the same train to Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand.
An argument broke out between them over purchasing the tickets.
Meanwhile, Adityanath showered flowers on the kanwariyas from a stage built near Dulhera Chowki in Meerut’s Modipuram area.
“From tomorrow, lakhs of Shiv devotees from various states of the country will carry water in the form of kanwar and perform jalabhishek in various Shiv temples. On this occasion, I heartily welcome all the Shiv devotees who are bringing holy Gangajal from Haridwar,” he said.
Rajya Sabha MP Laxmikant Bajpai and UP’s Minister of State Somendra Tomar shared the stage with him.
