Over 170 Kanwariyas booked for hooliganism, rioting within five days of yatra commencement
New Delhi: In just five days since the Kanwar Yatra began on July 11, over 170 Kanwariyas have been booked across various parts of northern India on charges ranging from hooliganism and rioting to blocking highways, obstructing police, disturbing public peace, and wrongful restraint, according to data from the Mela Police Force Control Room cited by Hindustan Times.
The rising incidents of violence and lawlessness among a section of Kanwar pilgrims have prompted concern from religious bodies. On Tuesday (July 15), the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada Parishad (ABAP) issued an appeal urging devotees to maintain the spiritual sanctity of the annual pilgrimage.
“This is not just a journey; it’s a deep act of devotion that dates back to the Treta Yug,” said Mahant Ravindra Puri, president of ABAP. “Kanwariyas must remember they are following the footsteps of revered figures like Parshuram and Shravan Kumar. This yatra is about compassion and penance, not aggression and chaos.”
Mahamandaleshwar Swami Harichetnanand Maharaj of Shri Panchayati Naya Bada Udasin Akhada echoed these sentiments, criticising what he described as the “distortion” of the pilgrimage’s core meaning. “We are seeing Kanwariyas pass Ganga Jal pitchers like batons in a relay race. This trivialises a sacred act,” he said.
Amid growing concerns, the Uttarakhand High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the state’s Director General of Police and the Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Department on how authorities plan to manage both the ongoing yatra and upcoming Panchayat elections, especially in light of the monsoon and heavy pilgrim traffic across the state.
The Kanwar Yatra, a major annual pilgrimage in which devotees of Lord Shiva carry sacred Ganga water from Haridwar and other riverbanks to their hometowns, has increasingly faced criticism in recent years over disruptions and reports of unruly behavior by some participants.
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Unruly scenes witnessed in Punjab Assembly
Chandigarh (PTI): The Punjab Assembly on Friday witnessed high drama on Friday after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira made an allegedly objectionable remark against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during an intense argument over the alleged use of mobile phone in the house by the legislator.
During the one-day special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha here, Mann accused Khaira of using a mobile phone when Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan was reading out an official resolution on the revision of wages.
After rising from his seat, the chief minister pointed to the speaker, claiming that Khaira is busy on his mobile phone and urged him to ask the Congress MLA what Sandhwan had said about the resolution.
The speaker then asked Khaira to maintain order in the house and listen to the resolution carefully.
Mann then asked Khaira, "Why don't you go out and then use it (mobile phone)," which led to a strong verbal altercation during which the opposition MLA hurled an accusation against the chief minister. Meanwhile, the speaker appealed for order and insisted that the chair be addressed.
However, both Mann and Khaira continued arguing and could be seen pointing fingers at each other as the proceedings of the house were disrupted.
The AAP MLAs also rose from their seats with Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema condemning Khaira for his conduct and demanded action against him.
Cheema further alleged that Khaira "always tries to disturb the house" as he spoke about his conduct in the assembly.
The incident occurred as an official resolution on the revision of wages was presented at the special session by Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond who said it paid homage to labourers on the International Workers' Day.
"Workers are the axis of construction of the nation, the community, the state and society. Every construction project succeeds only through their blood and sweat," the resolution read.
As per the resolution, "The base rate of minimum wages for the working class in Punjab was last revised in the year 2012. Although the dearness allowance has continued to increase since 2012, there has been no increase in the base rate of minimum wages.
On this sacred occasion of May Day, in this special session of the legislative assembly, this house proposes to revise and increase the minimum wages of labourers and strongly recommends to the government to take a decision regarding the increase of minimum wages for workers, so that the contributions of the workers can be acknowledged." PRK
