COVID-19 Update / Uttarakhand government canceled Kanwar Yatra amid fears of third wave of Corona, will continue in UP

In view of the fear of Corona epidemic and third wave, the Pushkar Singh Dhami government of Uttarakhand has canceled the Kanwar Yatra to be held this year. However, the Kanwar Yatra will continue in Uttar Pradesh. After Dhami took over as chief minister following the change of power in the state, his new government had decided to reconsider its decision on the annual religious pilgrimage involving Uttarakhand, which was canceled today.

Like last year, the Uttarakhand state government has canceled the Kanwar Yatra this year too. The Kanwar Yatra could not be operated even last year due to the infection of the global pandemic Corona. But in view of the possible third wave of the epidemic this year, the state government has taken a big decision, under which Kanwar Yatra will not be conducted this year also.

Chief Minister Dhami had said during a conversation with Aaj Tak two days ago that it is a matter of faith of lakhs of people. However, people's lives should not be in danger. Saving lives is our first priority. God will not like it if people have to lose their lives because of the yatra.

The merchants of Haridwar have been demanding to operate the Kanwar Yatra for a long time, because last year also the Kanwar Yatra has not been operated and has suffered a lot due to the curfew implemented due to the global pandemic Corona.

Almost on the verge of ruin, all the business classes whose livelihood depends only on religious events and travel were demanding from the state government that Kanwar Yatra should be conducted so that they could get some relief.

Last month, the then Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat had postponed the Kanwar Yatra. But after the change of leadership in the state, Pushkar Singh Dhami took over as the Chief Minister. Dhami had insisted on conducting the Kanwar Yatra in the initial days and during that time the Chief Minister had argued that the final decision would be taken after talking to the Chief Ministers of other states.

A final decision has been taken in the meeting regarding the Kanwar Yatra held in the Secretariat on Tuesday, under which the Kanwar Yatra will not be conducted this year as well. In such a situation, this year also the Kanwariyas have got disappointed. While the Uttarakhand government has postponed the Kanwar Yatra, but till now the Uttar Pradesh government has not postponed the Kanwar Yatra.

Kanwar Yatra has not been postponed in UP. CM Yogi Adityanath has instructed Team-9 that the traditional Kanwar Yatra can be done with the Kovid protocol. Chief Minister Yogi said that keeping in mind the future assessments of experts regarding corona infection, Kanwar Yatra should be conducted.

However, minimum people's participation will be requested by communicating with the Kanwar Sanghs. Necessary guidelines should be issued regarding Kanwar Yatra by communicating with the states of Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttarakhand.

However, earlier it was reported that the new Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami has spoken to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on the phone regarding the Kanwar Yatra and he may decide on starting the Kanwar Yatra soon after talking to the Chief Minister of Haryana. .

Earlier, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) expressed concern over the opening of tourist places in view of the great danger of the third wave. Along with this, the IMA also appealed to the central and state governments to strictly implement the Corona guidelines for at least three months.

In a letter to the central and state governments, the IMA said, "Tourism, pilgrimage, religious fervor is all that is needed, but can wait for a few more months." IMA President Dr JA Jayalal and Secretary General Dr Jayesh Lele said in the letter, 'The country is only emerging from the devastating second wave of the Corona epidemic, Corona is not over yet, it is clear in the available global evidence and the history of any epidemic that The third wave will come and will be coming soon.

At the beginning of the month, the Uttarakhand High Court extended the ban imposed on the Chardham Yatra till July 28. Earlier this stay was till July 7, which has been extended after hearing. Along with this, the High Court asked the state government to take a decision from the Chardham Board for live streaming of Chardham.