Uttarakhand to seal borders, in talks with other states | India News
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DEHRADUN: A day after Uttarakhand cancelled the annual kanwar yatra, but Uttar Pradesh said it would go ahead with it, the hill state on Wednesday decided to seal its borders to keep kanwariyas from entering. The administration also said it is holding talks at the government level with neighbouring states in an attempt to “scrap the yatra at the source”.
State government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal told TOI on Wednesday that it might be difficult to manage kanwariyas once they start out, so Uttarakhand is trying to connect with neighbouring states to stop them. “Our priority is to save lives. We are in discussion with neighbouring states to stop the yatra at the source. Looking at the present situation, it is not possible to allow the yatra.” Uniyal added that both PM Narendra Modi and the Indian Medical Association have expressed concern over the possibility of a third wave of Covid-19. “Religion is important, but at the same time we cannot risk lives. Such a decision has been taken in the past and this time as well a lot of consultations were held.”
Last year, former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat had barred the yatra. After that the Tirath Singh Rawat government, too, announced its cancellation in June. But soon after Pushkar Singh Dhami took charge as the new chief minister earlier this month, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had a telephonic conversation with him following which the former called a meeting with senior state officers and asked them to look afresh into the possibilities of allowing the pilgrimage.
The issue of the yatra was discussed during Dhami’s meeting with Modi and home minister Amit Shah in Delhi on July 10. On Tuesday, Dhami announced that the yatra would not take place in Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand police has now said that state borders would be sealed for kanwariyas. Director general of police (DGP) Ashok Kumar told TOI, “Kanwariyas trying to enter Uttarakhand will be turned back. We are also going to have a round of meetings with officials of the neighbouring states from where kanwariyas come and ask them to publicise that Uttarakhand is not conducting the yatra,” he said.
State government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal told TOI on Wednesday that it might be difficult to manage kanwariyas once they start out, so Uttarakhand is trying to connect with neighbouring states to stop them. “Our priority is to save lives. We are in discussion with neighbouring states to stop the yatra at the source. Looking at the present situation, it is not possible to allow the yatra.” Uniyal added that both PM Narendra Modi and the Indian Medical Association have expressed concern over the possibility of a third wave of Covid-19. “Religion is important, but at the same time we cannot risk lives. Such a decision has been taken in the past and this time as well a lot of consultations were held.”
Last year, former CM Trivendra Singh Rawat had barred the yatra. After that the Tirath Singh Rawat government, too, announced its cancellation in June. But soon after Pushkar Singh Dhami took charge as the new chief minister earlier this month, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had a telephonic conversation with him following which the former called a meeting with senior state officers and asked them to look afresh into the possibilities of allowing the pilgrimage.
The issue of the yatra was discussed during Dhami’s meeting with Modi and home minister Amit Shah in Delhi on July 10. On Tuesday, Dhami announced that the yatra would not take place in Uttarakhand.
Uttarakhand police has now said that state borders would be sealed for kanwariyas. Director general of police (DGP) Ashok Kumar told TOI, “Kanwariyas trying to enter Uttarakhand will be turned back. We are also going to have a round of meetings with officials of the neighbouring states from where kanwariyas come and ask them to publicise that Uttarakhand is not conducting the yatra,” he said.
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