Uttar Pradesh Calls Off Kanwar Yatra After SC Warns Of Covid Spread

A day after the warning from Supreme Court, the Kanwar Sang in consultation with the Uttar Pradesh government, has decided to call off this year’s Kanwar Yatra

The kanwar yatra has been called off by the Uttar Pradesh government a day after the Supreme court warned the state about the spread of covid due to the yatra.

The decision was taken on Saturday by the Kanwar Sangh in consultation with the UP government.

The decision by the UP government came a day after the top court asked to reconsider its decision to allow “symbolic” observance of the Kanwar Yatra amid the pandemic in the state this year.

Representing the Uttar Pradesh administration, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Avnish Awasthi, Additional Chief Secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal and Director General of Police (DGP) Mukul Goyal held a meeting with representatives from the Kanwar Sangh on Saturday.

“The Kanwar Yatra has been cancelled by the Kanwar Sanghs on the appeal of the Uttar Pradesh government,” said Sehgal.

Also read: “Right To Life Paramount” Reconsider Kanwar Yatra: Supreme Court To UP

Keeping in mind the threat the yatra would pose at a time when the country is looking at a potential third wave of the pandemic, the decision to call it off was taken during the meeting on Saturday.

On Friday the SC asked the UP government to let the court know by July 19 if it would reconsider the withholding of the Yatra.

The latest decision taken by the UP administration will be inform to the Supreme Court on Monday. The state administration may also inform the SC about its plan to distribute water from the river Ganga to the Kanwar devotees as suggested by the bench of the top court.

Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Odisha and Bihar have already banned this year’s Kanwar Yatra in view of the coronavirus pandemic.