Kanwar Yatra: VHP urges UP, Uttarakhand govts to rethink pilgrimage cancellation

• VHP leader Surendra Jain urged UP, Uttarakhand governments to rethink cancelling Kanwar Yatra. Jain appealed to the state governments to allow religious pilgrimage with Covid restrictions. “Kanwar Yatra is an important religious yatra for Hindus that ties the country in unity. Covid protocols should be followed but it is not correct to ban the yatra. It is my appeal to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand governments to rethink their decision. I urge the state governments to implement strict Covid protocols & allow the yatra,” he said. “The judiciary should not be selective in its decisions. Instead of suppressing religious belief, authorities must find ways to control the situation,” he added. UP govt after holding talks with Kanwar Sanghs announced cancellation of Kanwar Yatra. SC had given the state time till next week to ban the annual pilgrimage over Covid risks. Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand govt had decided to cancel the yatra on Tuesday. This is the second year the yatra has been cancelled due to the pandemic. Last year too, Kanwar Sanghs had publicly announced they will not arrange camps.