[ad_1]
NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh government on Saturday cancelled Kanwar Yatra in the state view of Covid-19.
“Annual Kanwar yatra has been cancelled in Uttar Pradesh. The yatra has been cancelled by Kanwar Sanghs on appeal of UP government,” state’s additional chief secretary information Navneet Sehgal said.
The decision comes a day after the Supreme Court asked the UP government to to disallow even a symbolic kanwar yatra scheduled to begin from July 25 in the state. The Uttar Pradesh government had maintained that “if” the yatra took place, it would happen in accordance with Covid-19 protocols and “with the consent of Kanwar associations”.
The Supreme Court had said that such movement of devotees cannot be allowed at a time when third wave of Covid-19 is looming over and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider its decision and not allow yatra even a symbolic one.
All sentiments, including religious, are subservient to the Right to Life, the Supreme Court said on Friday and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to inform by July 19 whether it would reconsider its decision to hold a “symbolic” Kanwar Yatra.
The Uttarakhand government has already cancelled the yatra.
Last year, the UP and Uttarakhand governments had taken a joint decision to cancel the Kanwar Yatra but this year, citing the low rate of Covid infection in the state, UP government had started making arrangements for the yatra.
However, facing flak for the Kumbh Mela held during the second wave and the court directing it to cancel the Char Dham yatra, Uttarakhand decided to keep the kanwar yatra under suspension.
“Annual Kanwar yatra has been cancelled in Uttar Pradesh. The yatra has been cancelled by Kanwar Sanghs on appeal of UP government,” state’s additional chief secretary information Navneet Sehgal said.
The decision comes a day after the Supreme Court asked the UP government to to disallow even a symbolic kanwar yatra scheduled to begin from July 25 in the state. The Uttar Pradesh government had maintained that “if” the yatra took place, it would happen in accordance with Covid-19 protocols and “with the consent of Kanwar associations”.
The Supreme Court had said that such movement of devotees cannot be allowed at a time when third wave of Covid-19 is looming over and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider its decision and not allow yatra even a symbolic one.
All sentiments, including religious, are subservient to the Right to Life, the Supreme Court said on Friday and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to inform by July 19 whether it would reconsider its decision to hold a “symbolic” Kanwar Yatra.
The Uttarakhand government has already cancelled the yatra.
Last year, the UP and Uttarakhand governments had taken a joint decision to cancel the Kanwar Yatra but this year, citing the low rate of Covid infection in the state, UP government had started making arrangements for the yatra.
However, facing flak for the Kumbh Mela held during the second wave and the court directing it to cancel the Char Dham yatra, Uttarakhand decided to keep the kanwar yatra under suspension.
[ad_2]
Source
