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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If you have a conscience, apologize to the people: R Ashoka slams Yathindra over Nalwadi comparison
Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka launched a scathing attack on MLC Dr. Yathindra, demanding that he retract his controversial statement comparing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to the late Maharaja Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar. Ashoka urged Yathindra to apologize to the people of Karnataka if he had even a shred of conscience and any respect for the Mysuru royal lineage.
In a strongly worded social media post on Sunday, Ashoka stated, “Comparing Siddaramaiah to Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar is nothing short of absurd. Where is Nalwadi, who was bestowed the title of ‘Rajarshi’ by Mahatma Gandhi himself, and where is Siddaramaiah, who has stooped to being a puppet in the hands of fake Gandhis for the sake of power?”
He continued his critique by contrasting the enduring legacy of Nalwadi, remembered fondly by Kannadigas for his people-centric development, with what he termed as Siddaramaiah’s failure to manage Karnataka’s economy, burdening every household with debt.
Ashoka highlighted several stark differences, while Nalwadi built Mysore University over a century ago, Siddaramaiah is shutting down nine universities due to lack of funds. Nalwadi famously sold his family’s gold to build the KRS dam, whereas Siddaramaiah is accused of grabbing 14 sites meant for the public. Nalwadi established Bhadravati Iron & Steel Plant, Sandalwood Soap Factory, and Mysore Paper Mills. In contrast, Ashoka claimed Siddaramaiah's governance drove away industries, investors, and entrepreneurs. Nalwadi pioneered reservations for the backward classes long before it became mainstream. Siddaramaiah, Ashoka alleged, is reducing social justice to a gimmick by sticking labels on doors in the name of surveys.
While acknowledging Yathindra’s emotional attachment to his father, Ashoka emphasized that comparing Siddaramaiah to a visionary like Nalwadi was “laughable, baseless, and a gross insult” to the late king.
In his concluding remarks, Ashoka slammed the government for ignoring farmers’ needs despite an early monsoon. He accused the administration of being caught up in internal power struggles and negligence, forcing farmers into despair. “This government will not be spared from the curse of the farmers,” he warned.
