Latest news with #Yatra
News18
10 hours ago
- News18
Chaos On Delhi Streets As Kanwariyas Flout Rules; Cops Say 'Our Hands Are Tied'
Last Updated: Residents across several areas said they felt unsafe and claimed police were deliberately avoiding action against the devotees Residents in Delhi have alleged police inaction as large groups of Kanwariyas flouted traffic and noise rules during the Kanwar Yatra, causing widespread disruption and discomfort across the city. Despite multiple complaints from locals about loud music, traffic blockages, and unruly behaviour, especially during late hours, Delhi Police did not register a single FIR against Kanwariyas since Friday. According to a report by Hindustan Times, residents across several areas said they felt unsafe and claimed police were deliberately avoiding action against the devotees. Complaints ranged from blaring boomboxes playing past 10pm to groups occupying parks and roads, with police allegedly choosing to look the other way. 'We have been asked by the top bosses to not take any strict action against kanwars. There is nothing we can do except politely ask them to adhere to the laws. Mostly, they don't but our hands are tied," said an assistant sub-inspector posted in South Delhi. A senior police officer said they had received nearly 250 complaints between Friday and Wednesday. Only a few minor cases were registered before the Yatra officially began on Friday, some of which involved people getting seriously injured. During the main days of the procession, no official cases were filed. Several residents said they had to change their daily behaviour to avoid any conflict. 'I didn't wear shorts in my locality while walking because some groups of kanwars were entering our locality to sit in our park. I felt extremely uncomfortable. Most of them were smoking," said a 28-year-old woman living near Apsara Border in Shahdara. Others shared their concerns about returning home late. 'My shift in the Gurugram office ends at 9:30pm. I usually reach home by 11:30pm and mine is the last stop. The last few days, I felt so uneasy and uncomfortable even when the driver and security guard were with me because these people are huge in numbers. I was worried something untoward wouldn't happen," said Shweta Arora, a resident of Kirti Nagar. Reports of violence were also recorded. 'The kanwariya who was touched by the vehicle wasn't even carrying the holy water. He was only walking but still they all got together and broke the cab's front view mirror. Three-four of us saved the cab driver from being beaten up. Police was called but they didn't take any action," said Pritam Pal Singh, a 55-year-old auto driver. Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Sunday had praised the arrangements made for the Yatra. She said grants were given to 374 Kanwar committees and that camps had been equipped with health services, electricity, toilets, and cleaning staff. She also announced that five lakh Kanwariyas would receive jute bags and Ganga water pails to promote eco-friendly practices. The Kanwar Yatra, which ended on July 23, involves devotees of Lord Shiva fetching holy water from the Ganges and offering it at local temples during the Shravan month. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
10 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
'Oppn Disguising As Kanwariyas': UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak Alleges Conspiracy To Defame Yatra
Last Updated: UP Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak accused opposition parties, especially Samajwadi Party, of defaming Kanwar Yatra by impersonating Kanwariyas. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak has made a strong statement regarding the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, accusing the opposition parties, including the Samajwadi Party, of conspiring to 'defame" the religious event. The BJP leader claimed that certain 'anarchist elements" have been impersonating Kanwariyas with the intent to create disturbances and tarnish the image of the annual pilgrimage, which sees thousands of devotees travelling on foot to collect holy water from the Ganga river. VIDEO | After today's cabinet meeting in Lucknow, Deputy CM Brajesh Pathak (@brajeshpathakup) alleged that Samajwadi Party supporters, disguised as Kanwariyas, are spreading lawlessness. He said such blatant misuse of the law will not be tolerated. — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 22, 2025 'The opposition parties, especially the anarchist elements of Samajwadi Party, have hatched a conspiracy to defame the Yatra by disguising themselves as Kanwariyas," said Pathak. 'Under a well-planned politics, strict action will be taken by identifying all the people…", he added. The Deputy CM added that the state government is keeping a close watch on all activities during the Yatra. He warned that strict actions will be taken against those flouting the rules. 'We will create a law and order system and action will be taken against anyone who breaks the law," he further said. The Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage observed by Shiva devotees, is currently underway in full swing. With lakhs of devotees taking part, authorities have ramped up security and surveillance to prevent any untoward incidents. The tradition is deeply rooted in devotion, simplicity and penance. But in recent years, many violent incidents have been reported during the yatra. Earlier this month, a group of kanwariyas vandalised a school bus in Meerut after it accidentally grazed one of them. Subsequently, an FIR was registered against the unidentified pilgrims from Ghaziabad. In a separate incident in Muzaffarnagar, few members of a Hindu outfit reportedly tried to strip an eatery worker during an 'identity check," sparking public outrage. A few days later, another group of pilgrims ransacked an eatery over being served onions, destroying furniture and damaging the kitchen. view comments First Published: July 23, 2025, 17:22 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Consumer is king, says SC on owner details display
The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to stay the Uttar Pradesh government's direction to eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR codes with the ownership details of the food joints, underlining that 'consumer is the king' and should be allowed to make an informed food choice. Consumer is king, says SC on owner details display A bench of justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh directed hotel owners to display their licence and registration certificate, as required under the Food Safety and Standards Act (FSSA), 2006, and posted the matter after two weeks for compliance of its order. 'The sentiments of devotees should not be affected. At the same time, the livelihood of shop owners should not be affected too. The court has to strike a balance,' the bench remarked. Arriving at a balance, the court was conscious that consumers need to be given the choice to decide whether they would prefer to eat from a pure-vegetarian hotel or one that serves vegetarian food during the yatra. 'We are concerned with consumers. It must be his choice. Ultimately, consumer is the king. We need to prioritise the interest of consumers,' it added. The order came as the court was hearing applications filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) lawmaker Mahua Moitra and Delhi University professor Apoorvanand Jha, challenging the Uttar Pradesh government's press note dated June 25 directing food sellers along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR codes, containing ownership details of the eatery and other legal compliance. The petitioners argued that the regulations issued by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) do not permit for QR coding. They also cited a July 22, 2024 order of the top court that stayed a similar direction by the UP police last year directing the eatery owners to display their as well as their employees' names in front of the shop. The applications claimed the present order issued by the UP commissioner of Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) was an attempt to 'circumvent' the stay by introducing requirements for QR code. When senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi, appearing for Jha, sought a clarification that the name of owners need not be displayed on QR code, the bench said: 'All these issues are left open. We are not going into this issue. You may challenge it before the high court. In any case it is infructuous…We are informed today is the last day of Yatra and in any case it is likely to end in near future.' It added: 'At this stage we only pass an order that all hotel owners shall comply with the mandate of displaying the licence and registration certificate as required statutorily.' The UP government, represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, said the requirement for QR code has been issued by the competent authority under FSSA. The state submitted that not a single affected shop owner had approached the court and questioned the right of the petitioners to challenge the state's direction. 'These devotees are highly sentimental. They would not like to have food from a shop which used to serve non-vegetarian food till a month ago using the same utensils,' Rohatgi said. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the applicants, said: 'This is all about identity politics. This is the most divisive policy to ostracise a minority community during this Yatra which alienates them. It sows the seeds of identity division, is a direct assault on secularism and is per se unconstitutional, violating right to equality, right to practice profession and right to life under Articles 14, 19(1)(g) and 21 [of Constitution].' During this time of the year, he said, all shops along the Kanwar route strictly sell only vegetarian food. 'You can boycott a food based on the menu card, not on the identity of the owner…,' Singhvi added.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
‘Panchmukhi shivling' found during excavation in UP's Badaun draws crowd, police deployed at site
A 'panchmukhi shivling' was found during the excavation of a pond in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun. The pond is located in Sarai Piparia village in Dataganj tehsil, reports said on Tuesday. The local administration deployed police and revenue teams at the site.(Representational) The 'shivling' drew a large crowd from the surrounding villages, with the local administration deploying police and revenue teams at the site, PTI new agency reported. The five-faced shivling, made of marble, was unearthed from about six feet below the surface by a bulldozer. The archaeological department will be called to assess the history and the age of the shivling, Dataganj Sub-Divisional Magistrate Dharmendra Kumar Singh said. However, Mahant Parmatma Das Maharaj of Papad Brahmadev Mandir claimed that the shivling was about three centuries old. Environmentalist Shipra Pathak, who was present during the excavation, said that the digging was being conducted for building a lotus pond on her 13-acre land. Pathak, who was also associated with Narmada Bachao Abhiyan, said that the discovery of the shivling was a 'divine sign'. 'One doesn't need blind faith for miracles — true faith brings miracles naturally,' Pathak said. A plant nursery – Panch Tatva Paudhshala – is also under construction on the land. Pathak plans to distribute five lakh plants every year through her foundation. 'Now that Lord Mahadev has manifested here, a grand and divine temple will be constructed at the site,' the environmentalist said. Meanwhile, the Kanwar Yatra is underway, with chief minister Yogi Adityanath reviewing the preparations for the annual pilgrimage undertaken by devotees. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also visited the Dudheshwar Nath temple in Ghaziabad and formally inaugurated the Shravan Kanwar Mela. He assessed preparations for the influx of Kanwariyas and asked for detailed updates on the arrangements, district magistrate Deepak Meena said. The CM also warned against any attempt to disrupt the Yatra. Adityanath said that it was the 'responsibility" of Kanwar sangh and Shiv devotees to 'expose such elements' and to inform the authorities if such incidents do occur.
United News of India
a day ago
- Politics
- United News of India
SC declines to stay QR code rule for Kanwar Yatra eateries
New Delhi, July 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court today refused to examine the legality of directives issued by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand authorities requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR codes revealing owners' details, stating that the matter had become infructuous with the Yatra ending. A bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice NK Singh disposed of the interlocutory applications challenging the mandates, while clarifying that eateries must continue to display their licences and registration certificates as per statutory requirements. 'We are told today is the last day of the Yatra. In any case, it is likely to come to an end in the near future. Therefore, at this stage, we would only pass an order that hotel owners comply with the mandate of displaying licences and registration certificates,' the bench ordered, adding that it was not entering into other contentious issues raised. During the hearing, Justice Sundresh emphasised the importance of consumer choice, observing, 'People have different food preferences. A vegetarian person may prefer to go only to a place serving exclusively vegetarian food, especially during a religious pilgrimage. If a hotel was earlier serving non-veg and switches to veg only during the Yatra for business reasons, the consumer should know. The choice is of the consumer… Customer is the king.' Senior advocate Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the directives mandating QR codes and owner names promoted religious profiling in violation of constitutional rights. 'How does the surname of the owner ensure good service? The only intent is to cause religious profiling. This is the most divisive initiative, to ostracise people as if they are untouchables,' Singhvi submitted, citing media reports of attacks on shops due to such identity disclosures. Senior advocate Huzefa Ahmadi also objected, illustrating that under the directive, even a neutral business name like 'Bombay Mart' would require adding the owner's personal name, thereby exposing religious identity. 'This promotes untouchability through the back door,' he warned. Justice Sundresh, however, maintained that while personally agnostic, he recognised that food choices matter deeply to many pilgrims. He added, quoting Marx in passing, 'Religion is the opium of the masses,' and clarified that the bench was seeking a balance between consumers' rights to know and avoiding discrimination. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, for Uttar Pradesh, defended the directives as compliance with FSSAI regulations, arguing that last year's Supreme Court order was only ad-interim and that misrepresentation by eateries regarding vegetarian food had previously triggered law-and-order issues. 'As per regulations under the Act, they require photo identity. Why are you scared of showing your name?' he asked. The bench refused to entertain further arguments, noting that the petitions had become infructuous with the Yatra's conclusion, and advised petitioners to approach the High Court if they sought further clarification. 'We have said that we are not going into it. If you want to challenge it, go before the High Court,' Justice Sundresh said. UNI SNG PRS
