The Uttar Pradesh Government, after interacting with the Kanwar associations, has decided that this year there will be no Kanwar Yatra due to the coronavirus epidemic. Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Awanish Awasthi and Director General of Police Mukul Goyal to hold talks with other States in view of the Kanwar Yatra.

Additional Chief Secretary (Information) Navneet Sehgal confirmed here on Saturday night that after an appeal by the State Government, the Kanwar Sangh had accepted the Government’s decision to postpone this year’s Kanwar Yatra.

It may be noted that last year the Kanwar Sanghs had themselves postponed the Yatra after talks with the Government. This time also the Government had taken this decision only with the consent of the associations.

However, the UP Government wanted the Kanwar Yatra not to be banned this time. Rather, it was of the view that the journey should be taken out following the Covid protocol. But the Uttarakhand Government banned the entry of kanwariyas coming from outside the State.

At the same time, the UP Government had given permission for the Kanwar Yatra, on which the Supreme Court, taking suo motu cognisance, issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh Government and asked it to file a reply regarding the Kanwar Yatra by July 19.

The apex court said one thing was completely clear that in view of Covid-19, the court could not allow the Uttar Pradesh government to organise the kanwar yatra with 100 per cent attendance of people.

It said the suo motu case was taken up because Article 21 was applicable to all. “This is for the safety of all of us,” it added.