E-Paper
Saints knock at Prez?s door
NOW THE saints and dharmacharyas camping in Magh Mela area have knocked at the door of the President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to seek his good offices to make the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna pollution-free.
NOW THE saints and dharmacharyas camping in Magh Mela area have knocked at the door of the President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam to seek his good offices to make the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna pollution-free.
In a memorandum addressed to the President Kalam the saints and dharmacharyas said that the natural flow of Ganga and Yamuna have been checked by constructing dams at Tehri, Narora and Yamuna Nagar respectively while the industrial waste and sewage of cities situated along these holy rivers is being constantly discharged in them.
It has resulted in massive pollution of water in both the rivers.
They said the Indian Constitution has provided for protection of religion and religious beliefs but the rights of the followers of Sanatan Dharm are being neglected by those in power.
The pollution of holy rivers has hurt the sentiments of common people besides saints and dharmacharyas.
The river pollution also amounted to violation of human rights, they said and added the people residing along the river mostly take bath in them, quench their thirst and use their water for various rituals and cooking food.
The polluted water besides hurting their religious sentiments also attracts health problems.
The memorandum stated that the saints camping in Magh Mela area have already boycotted the bathing in the polluted waters at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on the occasion of Makar Sankranti on January 14 and since then they have launched a peaceful agitation for release of pure water into Ganga from Narora and Tehri dams.
But unfortunately the state governments responsible for release of water are maintaining silence on the issue. If this situation continues they will boycott the bathing again on the Mauni Amavasya day on January 29 and pack up their belongings and leave the Magh Mela.
The saints and dharmacharyas have urged the President Kalam to realise the gravity of the situation and intervene immediately.
They have also demanded that saints and dharmacharya should be consulted before taking any decision with regard to religious fairs and a law should be made in this respect.
The copies of the memorandum have also been sent to the Prime Minister, the chief ministers of UP and Uttaranchal, divisional commissioner, district magistrate of Allahabad and Magh Mela Officer-in-charge.
