Two mosques and a mazar in Haridwar, which are on the route of the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, were concealed from view with giant white sheets on July 26 morning. By the evening, the district administration had removed the sheets, with police claiming it was a mistake.
The Yatra route in Haridwar runs through the city's Jwalapur area, where mosques and a mazar are located.
While the authorities argued there was no instruction to put up the sheets, Haridwar district in-charge minister Satpal Maharaj said the action was taken to avoid agitation or disorder and to guarantee the Kanwar Yatra performed well.
Satpal Maharaj said, “If this is done, it is so that there is no agitation and no flare-up. It was kept in mind that our Kanwar Yatra should go smoothly. When there is any construction, that structure is also covered. We have done the same here and will see what feedback we get. We will study that.”
Swatantra Kumar, the Haridwar Superintendent of Police (City), however, said there was no such directive to do so from either the district administration or the police.
“We have also talked to the party concerned and removed the covers. We have talked to the locals, too. Barricades were being installed on the Yatra route, and there must have been some mistake in that, leading to the covers. It was not intentional,” said Kumar.
Kanwar Yatra is a centuries-old tradition, performed during the month of Sawan according to Panchang, as per which Lord Shiva devotees travel on foot to religious sites along the Ganga River to collect holy river water. This water is then offered at Shiva temples.
