People trying to defame kanwar yatris, action will be taken against them: Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday, 20 July, 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, he said, "Troublemakers have resorted to defaming 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 constantly try to disturb that and defame this devotion and faith."

Social media is replete with videos purportedly showing kanwar yatris, wearing saffron clothes, creating ruckus on roads, ransacking hotels, damaging vehicles, and beating civilians. Adityanath claimed these are "miscreants" who infiltrate kanwar groups and bring them a bad name.

"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 urged people not to take the law into their hands and said the administration would take legal action against "miscreants" who disrupt any kanwar yatra.

Adityanath alleged that before 2017, the year he came to power, the governments in Uttar Pradesh did not allow these pilgrimages to happen and created obstacles.

"But today, there are governments that respect your devotion. It is our responsibility to take it forward with the same sacred sentiment," he said.

The chief minister also urged the kanwariyas to join in the cleanliness programmes and strive not to let any river, intersection, or road become dirty.

On Friday, 18 July, 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 the Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand's Deoghar. An argument broke out between them over purchasing the tickets.

Meanwhile, Adityanath showered flowers on kanwariyas from a stage built near Dulhera Chowki in Meerut's Modipuram area.

"From tomorrow, lakhs of Shiv devotees from various states will carry water and perform jalabhishek in various temples. On this occasion, I heartily welcome all the Shiv devotees who are bringing the holy Ganga water from Haridwar," he said.

Rajya Sabha MP Laxmikant Bajpai and Uttar Pradesh's minister of state Somendra Tomar shared the stage with him.