The recently held Kumbh was a mega spectacle, which became more of a national event rather than a religious gathering. One major change for this year’s Kumbh is its heavy marketing as a cultural and developmental showcase. It was labelled as “The Greatest Show on Earth” for Hinduism. On such occasions organizing the stay, cleanliness, and transport for the devotees is a mandatory function of the state. This time what was witnessed that state got fully involved in the process of organizing the event itself and the associates of ruling party, like VHP, Dharma Sansads (Religious Parliaments) and individual Sants/sadhus took the lead and initiatives in propagating the components of Hindu nationalist agenda and ‘Hate for Muslims’ at this congregation.

While the religious spiritual significance of the event is highly appreciated by the devotees, giving it a political colour was very significant this time around in the Kumbh. It is not the first time that Kumbh was organized. This time the occasion became the ground for enhancing Hindutva agenda. The State Government, while was inadequate in the management of the crowds, it had advertised and invited the devotees in large numbers for quite some time. Crores must have been invested for inviting the devotees.

The event was marked by a boycott of Muslim traders from setting up their shops, and stalls. The reasons given were multiple, one fake one being stated by Swami Avimukteshwaranand that Muslims spit in the food, so were kept away.  Many such misleading videos are doing rounds in the social media also. It is another matter that Muslims opened their Masjids and organized food for the desperate victims of stampede. One recalls that during the Mughal period, to make the Kumbh more comfortable for devotees, many Ghats (River banks for bathing) and toilets were built by them. According to historian Heramb Chaturvedi, Akbar had appointed two of his officers to look after the arrangements of the Kumbh.

The whole area was full of hoardings of Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath. This time around a large area was reserved for VIPs, leading to stampedes in which a large number of deaths occurred. The arrangement for transport was poor and this got reflected in the death due to stampede at New Delhi Railway station.

One upstart Swami, Dhirendra Shastri, whom Mr. Narendra Modi calls his younger brother, merrily said that those who died due to stampede are the recipients of Moksha. The water quality reached abysmal low level with E. coli and high excreta content. To all the criticism about water quality and deaths the Chief Minister commented that pigs are seeing the dirt, and vultures are counting the dead!

VHP used it as a golden occasion with its Margdarshak Mandal meetings. Their speeches were full of venom for Muslims. The usual propaganda about Muslims relating to population increase, infiltrators from BanglaDesh, Cow protection was repeated at various meetings ad nauseam. The Hate spreaders like Sadhvi Ritambhara, Praveen Togadia, and Yati Narsingnanand Sarswati were having a field day with their speeches laced with Hate. They were having large audiences. BJP has successfully made use of Sadhus for its political agenda and got publicity at state expense.

One such saffron clad reiterated the demand for Kashi and Mathura and claimed that such 1860 temples have been ‘researched’, which need to be restored. Demand for closure of Madrassas and converting English schools to Gurukuls to create a Hindu World was also articulated.

In a book Published in 2024, Irfan Engineer and Neha Dabhade draw our attention to the use of religious festivals as occasions to instigate violence. Our festivals have been pleasant social occasions, cutting across religious lines. Now the trend is to take out a process during Hindu festivals, pass-through Muslims areas, change the green flag on the mosque to saffron flag, and dance with sword in hand. At the same time hateful slogans against Muslims in the air. In this book the author duo points out Ram Navami festival in particular in 2022-2023. The violence covered in the book related to Howrah and Hooghly (2023), Sambahji Nagar (2023), Vadodara (2023), Biharsharif and Sasaram 2023, Khargone (2022), Himmat Nagar and Khambat (2022) and Lohardagga (2022).

Engineer concludes “Even a small Group of Hindu nationalists masquerading as ‘religious procession’ could insist on passing through minority inhabited areas and provoke some youth using political and abusive slogans and playing violent songs and music, hoping that in reaction, a stone would be thrown at them. The state would do the rest by arresting a large number of members of a minority and demolishing their homes and properties within days without any judicial procedure.”

At another level this right-wing politics has also brought up and promoted a goddess Shabri and Lord Hanuman in Adivasi areas. As anti-Christian violence picked the Adivasi areas during the last three decades, these areas saw an intense attempt by Vanavasi Kalyan Ashram and Vishwa Hindu Prishad (RSS progeny) to promote Shabri. Shabri Kumbh was held near Dangs in Gujarat. A Shabri Temple has been erected in these areas. That time Swami Aseemanand of VHP was working in this area. He was the one; who later was accused by Maharashtra ATS for being the part of conspiracy of bomb blasts in Malegaon, Ajmer and Mecca Masjid.

Why were Shabri and Hanuman picked up to be promoted in these areas? Shabri was the poor woman who did not have enough food to offer to her Lord (Ram). So, she offered berries after first taking the taste of these before offering. Contrast is clear in city areas we have Durga, Laxmi and Sarswati to worship, while for Adivasi areas it is Shabri. Similarly, Lord Hanuman (Devotee of Lord Ram) has been popularized In Adivasi areas. Quite interesting!

Hindutva politics’ impact on our festivals reflects a lot about their politics. The way some of these are being weaponized, or the way Kumbh has been made a ground for anti-Muslim rhetoric or the way Shabri and Hanuman are popularized in Adivasi areas is worth pondering over.

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The news item highlights that a 501-page document, prepared by a 25-member committee of scholars, draws inspiration from the Ramayana, the rules and teachings of Krishna, Manusmriti and Chanakya’s Arthashastra. The so-called ‘Constitution’ based on the Hindutva ideology, is expected to be unveiled at the Mahakumbh on Sunday February 2, when the Hindus celebrate ‘Basant Panchami’. Whether it will actually take place is anyone’s guess; the painful fact however, is that no one from the ruling regime, who swear by the Constitution of the country, has had the courage to say that very thought of propagating such an idea should be regarded as anti-national!

The committee which has put together this Constitution is known as the ‘Hindu Rashtra Samvidhan Nirmal Samiti’ and apparently consists of so-called scholars of the ‘Sanatan Dharma.’ Swami Anand Swaroop Maharaj, patron of the committee, told reporters at the Mahakumbh, that their target was to make India a Hindu nation by 2035. (their original plan was to make India a Hindutva- nation in 2025 – the centenary year of the RSS- but their plans failed miserably when they did not get the required numbers in the last Parliamentary elections- to make any undemocratic Constitutional changes).

The key provisions in the proposed ‘Constitution’ include:

• Mandatory Military Education: Every citizen of the Hindu Rashtra will be required to undergo military education.
• Harsher Punishment for Theft: The constitution proposes stricter punishment for theft and other crimes. (apparently there is no word on ‘corruption’ – which is the forte of the ruling regime)
• Tax Exemption for Agriculture: The tax system will be revamped, with agriculture being completely tax-free.
• Unicameral Legislature: The Hindu Dharma Parliament will be a unicameral legislature, with members known as Dharmik Sansads.
• Minimum Voting Age: The minimum voting age has been fixed at 16 years, with only those belonging to Sanatan Dharma allowed to contest elections.
• The Rashtradhyaksh, the chief of the country, would be chosen by three-fourths of the elected members of the legislature

Swaroop reiterated, “Human values are in the nucleus of our Constitution, which has been prepared by 14 scholars from north and 11 from south India. Our Constitution is not against other religions but those who are found involved in anti-national activities will face harsher punishment than what is awarded to them currently…. Over 300 amendments have been made in the Indian Constitution in the last seven decades but our scriptures are the same for the last several thousand centuries. There are 127 Christian, 57 Muslim and 15 Buddhist countries. Even the Jews have Israel. But the Hindus, whose population is over 175 crores across the world, have no Hindu nation.”

The writing has been on the wall since a long time now: the attacks on the Christians in 1998-99, in different parts of India and particularly in the Dangs District and other areas of South Gujarat became International headlines. The Gujarat Carnage in 2002 when more than 2000 Muslims were murdered, many more brutalised and even raped and thousands of others having to leave forever a place they once called their home –was perhaps the blackest chapter in post –independent India.

Over the years, and particularly since 2014, when the BJP seized the reins of power once again – every effort is being made to denigrate and demonise the minorities of India and especially the Muslims, the Christians and the Sikhs; they have also been derogatively referred to as ‘terrorists’, ‘converters’ and ‘khalistanis’, respectively.  There is a systematic move to paint the minorities as ‘anti-national’! Personnel and properties of the minority communities are regularly targeted.

The Judiciary –and in particular, the Supreme Court – has been one bastion of hope for the minorities, given its fundamental role and responsibility in protecting the letter and the spirit of the Constitution. Unfortunately, in the recent past, the Judiciary at various levels seem to have abdicated this non-negotiable duty – of impartiality, objectivity and of not siding with any particular faith and/or ideology. There are facts and other indicators to substantiate this!

Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav, a sitting judge of the Allahabad High Court is a classic example!

On 8 December, he addressed the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) legal cell, in Allahabad High Court on ‘Uniform Civil Code–A Constitutional Imperative’. He argued in favour of a Uniform Civil Code and demanded for changes in the Muslim personal laws. His speech smacked of blatant ‘majoritarianism’ saying that India should function according to the wishes of the “majority,” meaning Hindus! Justice Yadav assured the VHP gathering that as the Ram Mandir was constructed in Ayodhya after years of “sacrifices by our ancestors,” the Uniform Civil Code would also become a reality soon. “Did you imagine seeing the Ram Mandir with your own eyes? But you did see it. Many of our ancestors made sacrifices for it, in the hope of seeing Ram Lalla freed and witnessing the construction of a grand temple. They couldn’t see it but did their part and now we are witnessing it.”. Likewise, he said that the country would get a UCC. “That day is not very far,” he emphatically declared. On 17 December, he was summoned by the Chief Justice of India to appear before the Collegium regarding his remarks. A month later, he writes to the Chief Justice, saying he stands by his remarks which, he maintained, did not violate any principle of judicial conduct.

The remarks of Justice Yadav are just the tip of the iceberg. There was the case of a Christian Pastor who had died, being denied the right to burial in his native village in Chhattisgarh by the village panchayat. After knocking at all doors in his State, his son had to seek justice from the Supreme Court. On 27 January, the two-member bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict in the case. It directed that the body of the pastor be buried at a Christian graveyard 20 km away and asked the State administration to provide all support. Since the body was already in the morgue for almost three weeks, the judgement did not feel it appropriate to refer the matter to a larger bench.

Justice BV Nagarathna, however, strongly upheld the secular character of the Constitution. In her path-breaking judgment she asserted that, “It is said that death is a great leveller and we need to remind ourselves of this. This death has led to divisiveness among villagers on the right to burial. The appellant says there is discrimination and prejudice,” She noted that the High Court accepted a suggestion that displaced the practices being followed in the village. “The death of the person has given (way) to disharmony since it was not solved by the village panchayat. Panchayat has been taking sides which led to the case in high court and Supreme Court.” She pointed to the police affidavit that says a Christian convert cannot be allowed burial on the village grounds. “This is unfortunate and violates Articles 21 and 14 and furthers discrimination on the grounds of religion. The State cannot deny equality before the law. How could ASP Bastar give such an affidavit and what was the authority? it betrays the sublime principle of secularism.” Sadly, however, the other Justice thought otherwise and the Christian Pastor had to be buried far away from his village.

On January 27, Uttarakhand introduced and began implementing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) which most legal and Constitutional experts find highly discriminatory. It is clearly aimed at targeting sections of the minorities- particularly Muslims and Christians. The law, among other things, does not challenge patriarchal provisions in Hindu civil law, for instance, on the guardianship of a minor boy or unmarried girl going to the father, and only after him, to the mother. Strangely enough the law will not be applicable to Scheduled Tribes, with the CM saying, “We have kept our scheduled tribes mentioned under Article 342 of the Constitution out of this code so that those rights can be protected!” So the question being asked is how ‘Uniform’ is this code?

There is plenty else happening all over the country with regard to the rights of minorities and to the cause of secularism. The tribal Christians in Manipur have been suffering since May 2023. In UP, a Christian Pastor and his wife have been convicted under the State’s draconian anti- Conversion law whilst several others are languishing in jail. In every one of them – there is absolutely no evidence of any wrongdoing, just that they were conducting prayer meetings or having a Bible in their house. The anti- conversion laws in several states ruled by the BJP, not only violate Article 25 enshrined in the Constitution is but also a blatant attempt to discriminate against the minorities. ‘Ghar wapasi’ which is also a conversion exercise, does not come into the ambit of this law. Amit Shah in his election campaign in Maharashtra promised that such a law would be introduced in that State too!

The list is endless indeed! Mobs stormed the gates and the grounds the Jesuit –run Andhra Loyola College in Vijayawada, demanding that they are entitled to use the private premises as per their whims and fancies.  The High Court of Gujarat recently upheld the decision of the Gujarat State for a centralised process for recruiting teachers and principals in religious and linguistic minority educational institutions.  The UP Chief Minister on Republic Day publicly asserted that ‘Sanathan Dharma’ is the religion of the country! Then there is the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 which is supposed to be tabled in Parliament during this current budget session; A united opposition, however, has slammed the government on the passage of the draft report on the Waqf Amendment Bill saying they had no say, and all their amendments were defeated, and that only the amendments presented by the ruling party were taken up and considered. With frightening regularity one reads about how minorities are targeted for what they eat and wear, see and read!

Intellectual and social activist Professor Apoorvanand writes an incisive and hard-hitting article in ‘The Wire’ ( January 29, 2025).  The article entitled, ‘The Loneliness of Being Christian in India’, is replete with incontrovertible facts. He emphatically states, “but as human beings, we must ask: what kind of country is it where only Christians have to worry about attacks on Christians, and the rest of society remains deaf to their concerns? The prime minister of India issues statements about violence against Christians outside India, but in India, Christians are being attacked and arrested for having and distributing Bibles, and churches are being targeted. During Christmas season, he visits churches and meets religious leaders, but lets the blood of Christians flow. Are only Hindus allowed to preach their religion in India? 

What Prof. Apoorvanand states with angst, is an undeniable fact! There is a method in their madness, there is no doubt about it! The rot, we all know, starts at the top! At stake is the secular character of our nation and the future of democracy in our country- which is being destroyed systematically! We must wake up now and act with other like-minded women and men!

February 1, 2025 

(The author is a human rights, reconciliation and peace activist/writer. Contact: cedricprakash@gmail.com)

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During the Maha Kumbh Mela 2025, the spirit of unity and humanity was vividly displayed through several heartwarming acts. Farhan Alam, a volunteer, saved the life of Ram Shankar, a devotee who collapsed from a heart attack, by performing CPR in a swift and decisive manner. This heroic act went viral, showcasing his selflessness. Meanwhile, in the wake of a tragic stampede, the Muslim community in Prayagraj demonstrated remarkable hospitality by opening their homes and mosques to provide shelter, food, and medical aid to over 25,000 stranded devotees.

These acts of compassion, alongside other efforts like offering prayers in Dargahs and distributing food, epitomized the true spirit of Ganga-Jamuni culture, transcending religious boundaries to serve humanity.

Farhan Alam saves life of devotee, 35-years old Ram Shankar at Maha Kumbh with CPR

During the Maha Kumbh Mela, an inspiring act of humanity unfolded when Farhan Alam Idrisi, a volunteer from Prime Rose Education, saved the life of a devotee who had suffered a heart attack. The 35-year-old devotee, Ram Shankar, suddenly collapsed, losing consciousness amidst the massive crowd. Farhan, witnessing the incident, quickly acted, performing CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) to revive the unconscious devotee. A video capturing Farhan’s swift and decisive action went viral on social media, drawing praise for his bravery and presence of mind.

At the #MahaKumbhMela, #FarhanAlam and #YogeshRana saved the life of 35-year-old devotee #Ramshankar by performing CPR. A heroic act that made a difference!#MahaKumbh2025 #MahaKumbhMela2025 pic.twitter.com/xWVJv9NslA

— Hate Detector (@HateDetectors) January 29, 2025

Farhan’s timely intervention, Ram Shankar was revived and rushed to a nearby hospital for further treatment. Eyewitnesses hailed his selfless act, emphasizing how his knowledge of CPR and quick thinking were pivotal in saving the devotee’s life. This heart-warming moment highlights the true spirit of unity, where individuals rise above religious boundaries, working together to save lives and demonstrate compassion during times of crisis.

Muslims open Mosques, serve 25,000 with food, shelter, and care

As reported by Dainik Bhaskar, the Maha Kumbh Mela – 2025, which began on January 13, 2025, was marked by a tragic stampede as devotees arrived for the Mauni Amavasya dip. Barricades were set up near the Sangam. As people rushed forward, those who fell were trampled in the ensuing stampede, resulting in the deaths of 30 individuals and injuries to over 60 others. The aftermath, with crying relatives searching for loved ones and blood-soaked bodies, was a scene of horror. As reported, “The crowd kept crushing him. The scene after the stampede was horrifying”

Muslim community’s exemplary hospitality in crisis

In the aftermath of this tragedy, the local Muslim community in Prayagraj demonstrated remarkable compassion and unity. On January 29, with the entry of devotees blocked and thousands stranded, Muslims from over 10 areas, including Jansenganj Road, opened the doors of their homes, mosques, tombs, dargahs, and Imambaras to offer shelter and care. More than 25,000 devotees found refuge, as food, tea, and water were provided, and medical aid was offered to the injured. Dainik Bhaskar reports that localities such as Nakhas Kohna, Himmatganj, and Khuldabad organized Bhandaras (community feasts), offering meals like halwa puri to the stranded devotees. The community’s actions embodied the essence of Ganga-Jamuni culture, which is built on mutual respect and service.

“Humanity First”: the unifying message of the people

Irshad, a resident of Bahadur Ganj, shared, “He is our guest, we took full care of him” reported Dainik Bhaskar. Recognizing the dire situation after the stampede, he and his neighbours opened mosques and their homes to provide shelter for the needy. Masood Ahmed, a teacher from Apna Chowk, also emphasized, “Muslims were doing their religion, Hindus were doing their religion. Our aim was that the people who have come here should not face any problem in living” as per Dainik Bhaskar. Both Hindus and Muslims came together as human beings, ensuring that the basic needs of the devotees—food, shelter, and transport—were met. Their collective efforts sent a powerful message: unity, compassion, and humanity above all else.

Prof. V.K. Tripathi distributed fliers of love and peace at Kumbh Mela

Prof. VK Tripathi, Professor VK Tripathi’s (a distinguished physicist and former professor at IIT) unwavering efforts to promote peace and harmony stood as a beacon of hope during the Maha Kumbh Mela. At the event, he distributed flyers calling for an end to hatred and the spread of love, standing alone in his mission. His dedication to unity is evident in his previous visit to Ajmer, where he spread the same message. Prof. Tripathi strongly believes that while Indians are deeply religious, they are not communal. “The common man of this country is not connected to hatred but to the land,” he emphasizes, highlighting the unity that binds all.

 

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A post shared by Rakhi Tripathi (@rakhitripathi)

Notably, Professor VK Tripathi is on a powerful journey across India, spreading messages of harmony, social justice, and peace. Through his grassroots work, he reaches people from all walks of life, urging them to rise above divisive politics, support marginalized communities, and embrace values of secularism, compassion, and love.

Muslim Namajis in Prayagraj set a powerful example of unity and harmony

In a heartwarming display of mutual harmony, Muslim worshipers in Prayagraj extended a warm welcome to devotees arriving for the Mauni Amavasya bath. As the faithful gathered outside Chowk Jama Masjid, they greeted the pilgrims with flowers and Ramnami Angavastra, symbolizing respect and unity across communities.

 

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A post shared by PrayagrajNews Media (@prayagraj_news_media)

This act reflected the true spirit of Ganga-Jamuni culture, where traditions of love, respect, and brotherhood transcend religious boundaries. The gesture not only demonstrated hospitality but also embodied a profound message of peace and coexistence, reminding all that faith and compassion unite us beyond religious differences.

Display of unity: prayers offered in Dargah for Kumbh devotees, Bulandshahr

In Maha Kumbh, as millions gathered to seek blessings, people from the Muslim community in Bulandshahr demonstrated true harmony by offering prayers for the safety of devotees. They placed a cloth (chadar) at the shrine of Banne Sharif, symbolizing compassion, solidarity, and the power of faith beyond religious lines. Their act of kindness reinforced the spirit of unity at the event.

 

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Mosques and Imam helps the devotees on Mauni Amavasya at Maha Kumbh

On Mauni Amavasya at the Maha Kumbh, Prayagraj came together in unity to assist the throngs of devotees. Imam of Wasiullah Mosque, alongside the community, organized water and food provisions for those at Roshan Bagh Park. This collaborative effort reflected the city’s spirit of harmony and service to all.

 

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A post shared by Allahabadi_Prayagraj – The City of MAHAKUMBH (@allahabadi_prayagraj)

Another shining example of harmony and unity unfolded during Maha Kumbh 2025. In the wake of chaos and overwhelming crowds, devotees sought refuge in mosques. Imam Sahib and the local community beautifully showcased the essence of Ganga-Jamuni culture, offering food, shelter, and care. Their selfless service in a time of crisis is a testament to true brotherhood and compassion.

#महाकुंभ2025 में कुंभ के दौरान अव्यवस्था और भारी भीड़ के कारण श्रद्धालुओं को मस्जिद में शरण लेनी पड़ी। वहाँ इमाम साहब और स्थानीय लोगों ने गंगा-जमुनी तहज़ीब और भाईचारे की अनूठी मिसाल पेश करते हुए भोजन और ठहरने की व्यवस्था कराई।

इमाम साहब के इस सेवा भाव को दिल से नमन#MahaKumbh pic.twitter.com/XquiCWZGbK

— Subham Agrawal (@iSubhamAgrawal) January 30, 2025

Food distributed to Kumbh devotees in Khuldabad, Prayagraj

In a beautiful exchange of love and compassion, the Muslim community in Khuldabad, Prayagraj, came forward to serve Kumbh devotees. With open hearts, they distributed food to the pilgrims, embodying the true spirit of unity. This selfless act of kindness strengthened the bond of brotherhood, showcasing the power of humanity and compassion beyond religious boundaries.

 

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A post shared by allahabadmerijaan (@sufism68_)

However, another viral video on social media shows Muslims and Sikhs selflessly distributing food to Kumbh devotees, exemplifying the true spirit of love, unity, and harmony, transcending religious boundaries in the holy gathering.

 

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A post shared by Allahabad Prayagraj (@adc_wale_bhaiya)

The Maha Kumbh Mela 2025 will be remembered not only for its religious significance but for the profound acts of unity and compassion that transcended all barriers. From the heroic rescue of Ram Shankar by Farhan Alam to the selfless service of food, shelter, and medical aid by the Muslim community, every gesture highlighted the power of humanity. Prof. V.K. Tripathi’s message of love and peace further emphasized the need for unity in times of crisis. These heart-warming acts of kindness at the Kumbh Mela reflect the spirit of Ganga-Jamuni culture, where compassion, cooperation, and shared humanity are at the core of faith.

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The post Sikhs, Muslims of Prayagraj welcome Kumbh pilgrims with shelter, food, and warmth appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Uttarakhand High Court had recently said: “first we make the mistake of holding Kumbh Mela, then there is Char Dham; Why do we repeatedly embarrass ourselves”. The HC had berated the government for not being adequately prepared and ignoring the scientific community’s warning about the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic.   In April, media reports stated that at least “9.1 million pilgrims visited Haridwar for the Mahakumbh”. The details were shared by the organisers themselves. The Kumbh Mela, then made international news as violation of Covid-19 protocols among the massive crowds became apparent, even as Covid-19 surged across the country. 

On April 27,  over  25,000 devotees and 1,000 seers participated in the final Shahi Snan (royal or most holy dip) of the Kumbh Mela 2021. These were said to be some sort of restricted crowds after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal on April 18 that Kumbh celebrations be only “symbolic”. Hours after the Shahi Snan concluded, Haridwar’s district administration announced a ‘corona curfew’ from April 28 to the morning of May 3. However, by then hundreds were reported to have tested Covid-19 positive at the mela. 

By May, those returning from the mela had possibly begun spreading the infection, as they travelled back to their hometowns across the country. A BBC report was one of the first to use the word “super spreader” for the event.  It listed states that had traced some new Covid-19 infections to Kumbh Mela returnees testing positive. The report put on record that “Authorities in Rajasthan blame the pilgrims for the rapid spread of Covid cases in the state, especially in rural areas”. Kumbh returnees had also tested positive in Odisha, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, even in the neighbouring country Nepal, where the former king and queen were infected.

However, by the end of May, the Uttarakhand state government officials, “after a detailed review,” have assessed that the attendance figure was “almost 70%” down, to an estimated 15 lakh, for the three crucial days of the Kumbh: April 12, 13, and 14. According to the government a total of 49 lakh devotees had taken a dip in the Ganga at Har Ki Pauri and linked ghats in Haridwar but for these days, Sanjay Gunjyal, Inspector General of Police, Kumbh Mela, told the media that: “the footfall on April 12 was only 21 lakh; on April 13 around 3 lakh and on April 14, about 12 lakh.” These ‘new’ numbers are much lower than what the state government itself had claimed earlier. 

In April, according to an Indian Express report, Uttarakhand had said “over 31 lakh people took a dip on the second shahi shan on April 12; 4.5 lakh on April 13; and over 13.5 lakh on April 14.” 

However, according to Gunjyal: “The earlier data was based on headcount. But the data for April 12 had been miscalculated by adding data from other days as well.” According to the report these low numbers are “based on a review of all key mobility indicators, which include occupancy figures for all hotels in the district, vacancies in registered parking lots, cellphone presence accessed from mobile towers, and passenger traffic for vehicles and on all trains to and from Haridwar.” But then what was the head count all about? Who were those people and where did they disappear?

 According to Uttarakhand Congress Senior Vice-President Suryakant Dhasmana quoted by the IE, the state government exaggerated the footfall data to show it successfully organised a grand mela. He said “footfall was less than the figures claimed by the government. With such exaggerated data, the state government tried to cover-up its failure in making preparations, essential to protect devotees from Covid.” he said. When contacted, Cabinet Minister and government spokesperson Subodh Uniyal said figures of footfall announced by administration were correct. “But it is also true that footfall was less on shahi snan this time as compared to previous Kumbh. Common people came in very less numbers, mainly saints who stayed during Kumbh,” he said.

It is important to put this in perspective with what happened in March 2020. The state and Union government had cracked down on the Tablighi Jamaat HQ in Delhi, and blamed its annual event for the spread of Covid-19 in India. There were around 1,000 members of the Jamat who had been stranded at its headquarters Nizamuddin Markaz, in Delhi after the sudden declaration of the lockdown. The Delhi government called it a hot spot. Soon it was called a ‘super spreader’ event, as mainstream media began reporting how Markaz attendees had travelled to different parts of the country from Delhi.  Tablighi Jamaat, and Muslims by extension were blamed for spreading Covid-19 in India as a full blown media trial ensued, followed by government crackdown, arrests, vilification, violence and hate speech. After 11 state governments also filed 205 FIRs against 2,765 foreign nationals for allegedly violating visa terms and intentionally disregarding Covid-19 guidelines, not one member of the Tablighi Jamaat, a back-to-roots Islamic movement, was convicted by any court. An analysis of these multiple orders revealed  how the Courts have seriously questioned the charges invoked against them, quashing the cases filed against them are slowly emerging.

A year later in April 2021, Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat decaled:  “Don’t compare Kumbh Mela to Markaz event,” even as images of thick crowds of thousands of devotees, many without masks flooded social media. When reminded that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politicians had raised a hue and cry on the Nizamuddin Markaz of the Tablighi Jamaat as being a super spreader. Rawat laughed it off saying there was no comparison and the “Kumbh did not have any outsiders” but “our own pilgrims”. “That time there was no checking, and this time we know who came when. That was a small space, Kumbh is a massive area. This is a matter of ‘astha’ faith”. Around 32 lakh devotees were at Haridwar for the first shahi snan on March 11, Mahashivaratri it was reported. Some of these numbers, it seems, have been washed away too.

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Kumbh Mela: Over 25,000 devotees and 1,000 seers participate in Shahi Snan

The post How did the Kumbh Mela attendance record drop to 21 Lakh from 49 Lakh? appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On Tuesday, over  25,000 devotees and 1,000 seers participated in the final Shahi Snan (royal or most holy dip) of the Kumbh Mela 2021. These are said to be some sort of restricted crowds after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal on April 18 that Kumbh celebrations be only “symbolic”.

The mela will soon end officially, and most of the visitors will begin leaving for their home states via various modes of transport. It is not yet known if all these visitors to the massively crowded Kumbh Mela would have tested negative for Covid-19 before they leave, or if all other states will ensure they are quarantined and tested as a precaution on arrival. 

Meanwhile, hours after the Shahi Snan concluded on April 27, Haridwar’s district administration announced a ‘corona curfew’ from April 28 to the morning of May 3.  According to The Indian Express, IG Kumbh Mela, Sanjay Gunjyal, said, “Following appeal from the Prime Minister and constant review by the Chief Minister, akharas cooperated in keeping the crowd low today. There were meetings with akharas daily over the last three days on crowd management. They followed social distancing too. Even Naga sadhus wore masks.”

According to the IE police personnel also took part in the shahi snan said it was “symbolic”. Police, told the media that around around 85 seers from Niranjani and Anand akhadas, 250 from Juna, Agni and Ahvaham; 80 from Mahanirvani and Atal; around 600 from Nirmohi, Nirvani and Diganmbar, around 230 from Bada Udaseen and Naya Udaseen and 100 from Nirmal akhara took part in the Shahi Snan Tuesday. Add to that the devotees who had come from across the country to take part in the kumbh mela. 

According to the news report, the footfall of devotees at the first shahi snan on March 11 was around 32 lakh, and was the same on the second shahi snan on April 14, 13 lakh took part in  the third Shahi Snan on April 14. The news report quoted Juna Akhara spokesperson Mahant Narayan Giri who said, “In view of appeals from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, we kept the shahi snan symbolic today. Around 5,000 seers and followers with 150 chariots had taken part in each of the past three shahi snans… Around 90 per cent seers and followers who had come from other states have already returned.”

However, The New Indian Express reported there has been an “explosive 1,800% spike in active cases in Uttarakhand between March 31 and April 24, a period coinciding with the Haridwar Mahakumbh”. This clearly indicates that the Kumbh Mela may have turned into a super spreader event. Before the Kumbh, the state had 1,863 active cases as on March 31, it reached 33,330 cases on April 24. According to the government’s data, it has been reported that over 35 lakh people gathered at Haridwar on April 12, over 13.51 lakh on April 14. 

Lies about Kumbh Mela & Covid:

I’d filed an RTI with CMO Haridwar asking how many Covid-19 tests were conducted in the 14-day period from 1st April to 14th April at Kumbh Mela.

Remember: over 3.5 million people bathed in the river on just ONE DAY so imagine the footfall.

(1/7) pic.twitter.com/0a1eZ0AEY6

— Saket Gokhale (@SaketGokhale) April 24, 2021

Those who have already left Haridwar may have already carried the Covid-19 infection with them and are all potential super spreaders. A celebrity example is that of Nepal’s former royals, King Gyanendra Shah (73) and Queen Komal Shah (70), who tested positive for Covid-19 days after their return home from the Mahakumbh Mela in Uttarakhand reported Hindustan Times. The Himalayan Times reported that the couple’s RT-PCR tests were confirmed positive, and authorities were tracing others who have been in contact with the couple. The couple had taken a holy bath at Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar during the Mahakumbh. Hundreds of people had gathered at the airport in Kathmandu to welcome the couple on their return, stated news reports. Indian music composer Shravan Rathod who had also gone to the Kumbh, succumbed earlier this week to Covid-19 complications.

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Don’t compare Kumbh Mela to Markaz event: Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat

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The post Kumbh Mela: Over 25,000 devotees and 1,000 seers participate in Shahi Snan appeared first on SabrangIndia.

On April 13, the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) tweeted a Vice Media article about the Kumbh Mela saying, “As India’s COVID cases hit a new high, tens of thousands took a ritual bath together” and more text on an image of the Kumbh saying, “Tablighi Jamaat was ‘Corona Jihad’, but no one’s said a word about the Kumbh Mela with millions of attendees”.

But it was allegedly taken down by Twitter at the behest of the ruling regime. The IAMC, that aims for “empowerment through strategic advocacy for peace, pluralism and social justice” has now condemned the action. In a statement released over the weekend, IAMC has “expressed dismay over the government of India’s continued obsession with managing the news coverage of the pandemic instead of the pandemic itself.”

The group said, “As the pandemic rages across India accounting for almost half of all new cases globally, the government ordered Twitter to block over 50 tweets that criticized its complete mismanagement of the pandemic. Among them was a tweet by Indian American Muslim Council, comparing the rabid Islamophobia targeting the Tablighi Jamaat and all Indian Muslims in the early days of the pandemic with the near silence over government support for the massive Kumbh Mela, that has endangered the lives of millions of Hindu devotees and their fellow citizens.”

IAMC also shared a screengrab of the tweet. It may be viewed here:

Khalid Ansari, Vice-President of IAMC said, “The catastrophic surge in Covid-19 cases across India and the collapse of the country’s healthcare system is a monumental albeit avoidable tragedy for which the responsibility lies squarely on the government’s misplaced priorities.”

The groups statement goes on to point out “super spreader” events saying, “Far from leading by example to overcome the crisis, the Modi administration promoted the spread of the virus by organizing countless super spreader events in the form of election rallies where masking was not enforced and where Mr. Modi as well as Home Minister Amit Shah addressed massive crowds.”

As many as 52 tweets by journalists, activists and different organisations were allegedly blocked, in response to a request by the Government of India on Thursday. Medianama first broke the news of this after Twitter disclosed the legal takedown notice to the Lumen Database. Tweets removed include those by Revanth Reddy, a Member of Parliament from Telangana, West Bengal’s Labour and Law Minister Moloy Ghatak, actor Vineet Kumar Singh and many others. The entire Twitter account of Swaraj Abhiyan activist Zia Nomani was also suspended.

Twitter’s response

In response to the Medianama story, a Twitter spokesperson told the technology policy website, “When we receive a valid legal request, we review it under both the Twitter Rules and local law. If the content violates Twitter’s Rules, the content will be removed from the service. If it is determined to be illegal in a particular jurisdiction, but not in violation of the Twitter Rules, we may withhold access to the content in India only.”

Twitter’s past actions

This is not the first time Twitter has allegedly succumbed to pressure from the Indian government. SabrangIndia had previously reported that Kisan Ekta Morcha (KEM), the official handle of the farmers’ struggle, news magazine The Caravan and multiple media personnel lost access to their Twitter accounts on February 1, 2021 “in response to a legal demand.” However, these accounts were then reinstated by Twitter attracting the wrath of the Indian government.

On February 3, the central government issued a notice to Twitter for “unilaterally” unblocking over 250 such accounts despite being given specific orders by the Government to block them.

Then on February 10, 2021 Twitter said that it would not block accounts of journalists, activists and politicians because such an action would “violate fundamental right to free expression under Indian law.” In a blog post, Twitter further said, “In keeping with our principles of defending protected speech and freedom of expression, we have not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians. To do so, we believe, would violate their fundamental right to free expression under Indian law.”

What followed was a virtual meeting between Secretary Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITy), Government of India and a team from Twitter comprising Monique Meche, Vice President Global Public Policy and Jim Baker Deputy General Counsel and Vice President Legal. In a statement released after that meeting, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology said that the Secretary had taken “this opportunity to remind Twitter that in India, its Constitution and laws are supreme. It is expected that responsible entities not only reaffirm but remain committed to compliance to the law of land.” There were also media reports about the possibility of arrest of top executives of Twitter at that time. But no further action was taken against any Twitter employee after that.

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The post Muslim advocacy group’s tweet comparing Kumbh Mela with Tablighi Jamaat blocked appeared first on SabrangIndia.

“Don’t compare Kumbh Mela to Markaz event,” said Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat in a video interview to Hindustan Times even as images of thick crowds of thousands of devotees, many without masks flooded social media well into Monday.

India has reported a record daily tally of over 1,68,912 Covid-19 infections by Monday. According to multiple reports this may grow and fuel yet another spike. According to the BBC, India now accounts for one in every six daily infections worldwide and has overtaken Brazil, on Monday with an overall tally of 13.53 million cases. Second only to the United States, which has a total of 31.2 million cases. 

Even as state elections continue in West Bengal, the next state in focus is Uttarakhand where the Kumbh Mela, one of the biggest religious gatherings in the world, is in full swing. In Uttarakhand’s Haridwar, lakhs of devotees are converging on the banks of the Ganga for a holy dip. The invite to them seems to have come from none other than the state’s Chief Minister Tirath Singh Rawat, who himself has recently recovered from Covid-19. Rawat has been sharing the importance of the mela encouraging people to “bathe the Ganges in Kumbh,” adding that they must follow Covid-19 guidelines and SOPs. 

भगवान शिव की आराधना की प्रतीक पुण्यदायी सोमवती अमावस्या की आप सभी प्रदेशवासियों को हार्दिक शुभकामनाएं। भगवान गौरीशंकर के आशीर्वाद से आपके जीवन में हमेशा सुख-शांति बनी रहे।
इस अवसर पर कुंभ में गंगा स्नान कर पुण्य लाभ अर्जित करें साथ ही कोविड की गाइडलाइन का अवश्य पालन करें। pic.twitter.com/0r9ozT3INJ

— Tirath Singh Rawat (@TIRATHSRAWAT) April 12, 2021

However, Covid-19 prevention guidelines include adequate social distancing, and wearing appropriate masks. None of those are being followed here as the many visuals have shown. People are growing in processions, at ghats often without masks. In the water, masks are not helpful anyway. 

The state authorities say they have made virus tests mandatory for those entering its borders, however social distancing is not even a thought here. In the last 24 hours only over a thousand cases have been detected, however it is not known yet if tests were also carried out near the mela site, as well, as the rule said a Covid-19 negative certificate was mandatory.

The CM has claimed the state is well prepared, he says Kumbh is connected with not just India but the world, and people wait for 12 years making a vow to take the holy dip. He told the Hindustan Times that when he took over “Covid-19 was near zero” and hence the state organised a grand welcome for those coming for the Kumbh with flower showers from helicopters and other elaborate preparations. He said “masks and sanitizers” have been arranged at the state borders and maintained that his state is following the Centre’s Covid-19 prevention guidelines of masks and sanitizers. On social distancing he said “we will make efforts”. However, Rawat was unable to explain what the state government’s plan was on maintaining social distancing but said “earlier people were scared of coming to the Kumbh” and said after he allayed their fears then 32 lakh came on Mahashivratri, a few days ago. The CM has so far refused to answer any questions on the massive crowds seen at the Kumbh Mela.

When reminded that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politicians had raised a hue and cry on the Nizamuddin Markaz of the Tablighi Jamaat as being a super spreader. Rawat laughed it off saying there was no comparison and the “Kumbh did not have any outsiders” but “our own pilgrims”. “That time there was no checking, and this time we know who came when. That was a small space, Kumbh is a massive area. This is a matter of ‘astha’ faith”. Around 32 lakh devotees were at Haridwar for the first shahi snan on March 11, Mahashivaratri.

Meanwhile, the Uttarakhand Police are using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to zoom in on those not wearing masks, reported Indian Express, and had installed over 350 CCTV cameras in the mela area, and a 100 of these had AI sensors that will alert the authorities when a person without a mask is spotted. According to the report the alert is relayed to police surveillance control room in Mela Bhawan near Har Ki Pauri “who share the location of the violator to the nearest enforcement teams. The person is handed, besides a free mask, punishment as per rules”. However the videos and photos from the sight show scores without masks in crowded areas. The Kumbh Mela formally started on April 1. According to news reports the Kumbh mela sees a daily average of “over three lakh devotees at the various ghats in Haridwar, but that number is expected to swell during the shahi snans on April 12, 14 and 27”.

Thousands of devotees, some of them without masks, gathered by the river Ganges in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar for prayers during the #KumbhMela2021 pic.twitter.com/ISuZWVb3LK

— NDTV (@ndtv) April 12, 2021

Remember Corona Jihad headlines?

It was just a year ago, in March 2020, when the authorities cracked down on the Muslim congregation called, Tablighi Jamaat holding it responsible for the spread of Covid-19 in India. Around 1,000 members of the Jamat had been stranded at its headquarters Nizamuddin Markaz, in Delhi after the sudden declaration of the lockdown. It was identified as a hotspot by the Delhi government and it was reported that many people who attended the congregation had travelled to different parts of the country before the national lockdown could be announced. From here on several conjectures were reached that Covid numbers persons were increasing in the country because the Jamaat members “brought the virus into the country, that there was a controversy to spread the virus in the country and so on.” A full blown media trial, government crackdown, arrests etc ensused, as did villification, violence and hate against the muslim community at large.

Eventually the many cases filed against them were, one by one, dismissed by courts either by stating that the majority of them were eventually tested negative, or on the ground that no case was made out against them and they were merely seeking refuge in mosques owing to the suddenly announced nationwide lockdown. A year after 11 state governments also filed 205 FIRs against 2,765 foreign nationals for allegedly violating visa terms and intentionally disregarding Covid-19 guidelines, not one member of the Tablighi Jamaat, a back-to-roots Islamic movement, has been convicted by any court. An analysis of these multiple orders reveals that the Courts have seriously questioned the charges invoked against them, quashing the cases filed against them are slowly emerging.

Recently, Bebaak Collective published a report Communalisation of Covid-19 highlighting that Muslims were quickly equated with the ‘virus’ and the ‘disease’ itself, and feared, hated and contained. The report covers seven states of northern, western and central India documents the synchronised working of the media, police and state authorities as the primary force which allowed for the discrimination, violence and exclusion faced by Muslims during the pandemic. A petition was also filed before the Supreme Court against the communalisation of Covid-19 by the news media, and the narrative that ran with it. The case is pending before the court.

Fast forward to April 2021, even as ‘faith’ takes over Covid-19 protocols AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria has warned that crowded places are “super-spreader events.” Guleria, reported Mint has said that “people not adhering to COVID-appropriate behaviour and the circulation of highly infectious strains of SARS-COV-2 could be the primary reasons behind the surge in coronavirus infections in India. He also warned that if the situation is not reversed, then the galloping infection rate will eventually cause a huge strain on the country’s healthcare system.” He asked that, “unless it is important, people should not venture out” adding that “it has to be ensured that there is no gathering and stricter enforcement of COVID-appropriate behaviour has to be ensured”.

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Union Health Minister blames states, citizens for Covid surge

The post Don’t compare Kumbh Mela to Markaz event: Uttarakhand CM Tirath Singh Rawat appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The Centre has directed the Uttarakhand government to follow strict Covid-19 spread prevention measures during the upcoming Kumbh Mela. Lakhs of pilgrims are expected to visit the state for the event. According to a report in NDTV, the directions were sent after a high-level team which travelled to Uttarakhand state raised concerns after reviewing medical care and public health arrangements for the Kumbh Mela. Now the state government has been told by the union Health Ministry “to increase the number of Covid testing as per the ICMR guidelines to ensure that the pilgrims and local population is appropriately tested”.

Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to the Uttarakhand Chief Secretary, recommending “periodic testing of frontline workers before and after auspicious snan, effective risk communication, enhanced testing in potential high transmission areas” among other measures. He has noted that pilgrims could arrive from any of the states which are currently recording a surge in Covid cases, and that there “is a potential of an upsurge in cases in the local population after the auspicious Shahi Snan days during the Kumbh Mela.” According to the news report, it was also reported by the central team, that “10-20 pilgrims and 10-20 locals are being reported positive every day. This positivity rate has the potential to rapidly turning to an upsurge in cases, given the expected large footfall during Kumbh.” Meanwhile, Uttarakhand chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat, announced that he too had tested Covid-19 positive. 

मेरी कोरोना टेस्ट रिपोर्ट पॉजिटिव आई है। मैं ठीक हूँ और मुझे कोई परेशानी नहीं है । डॉक्टर्स की निगरानी में मैंने स्वयं को आइसोलेट कर लिया है ।आप में से जो भी लोग गत कुछ दिनों में मेरे निकट संपर्क में आयें हैं, कृपया सावधानी बरतें और अपनी जाँच करवाएं।

— Tirath Singh Rawat (@TIRATHSRAWAT) March 22, 2021

He had recently announced a relaxation Covid-19 restrictions in the state. Rawat had said that the pilgrims visiting the Kumbh Mela in Haridwar do not have to carry Covid-19 negative RT-PCR reports. Rawat also said, he “asked the secretary to respect akharas, shower flowers on them by helicopters, but also let the public come.”

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had also tested positive for Covid-19 on March 19, and was admitted to AIIMS Covid Centre in Delhi for observation. 

India recorded 46,951 new cases in the last 24 hours.  

According to information shared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), India recorded 46,951 new cases in the last 24 hours. Maharashtra, Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh together account for 84.49% of the total new cases registered in the last 24 hours stated the MoHFW. This marks a four-month high and is the highest surge noted so far this year. According to MoHFW, the nationwide tally now stands at 1,16,46,081, Covid-19 cases. India’s total Active Caseload has reached 3,34,646.  

Centre says Covishield Second Dose Gap To Be Increased Up To 8 Weeks

A new Covid-19 vaccination related instruction has been issued by the Centre, now recommending that the gap between the two doses of the Covishield vaccine be increased to six-to-eight weeks for better results. It was earlier 28 days, now the Centre has sent fresh instructions to all states and Union Territories. This comes in the middle of round two of nationwide vaccinations, in which people above 60 and those over 45 with co-morbidities are being inoculated. The revised interval applies only to Serum Institute of India’s Covishield – the vaccine developed by Oxford AstraZeneca.

According to the ministry, the recommendation has been made after a “revisit” on the 28-day gap done by “National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI) and subsequently by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) in its 20th meeting” which then recommended that the second of Covishield be given “at 4-8 weeks’ interval after the 1st dose, instead of earlier practiced interval of 4-6 weeks. This decision of revised time interval between two doses is applicable ONLY to Covishield and NOT to Covaxin Vaccine, stated the letter written by the Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to the Chief Secretaries of States/UTs on Monday, March 22. According to the ministry, “Keeping the existing scientific evidence in view, it appears that protection is enhanced if the second dose of COVISHIELD is administered between 6-8 weeks, but not later than stipulated period of 8 weeks.” The vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16, and  over 4.50 crore vaccine doses have been given across the country since then.

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A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, in its order dated April 22, 2019, in M.C.Mehta versus Union of India, has directed the UP chief secretary, Dr. Anup Chandra Pandey, to take urgent steps to dispose of the solid waste that has accumulated in Prayagraj post-Kumbh Mela and fix accountability of officers in this regard. It further added that accountability must be fixed at the ground level and personal supervision by senior-level officers should be ensured. The tribunal said that on perusal of photographs, it was found that there was an urgent need for restoration work for the treatment of sewage water, remediation work for drains and solid waste processing.
 

The post ‘Despite Being Touted as the Cleanest, Post-Kumbh Mela Waste has caused an Alarming Situation’: Justice Tandon Report appeared first on SabrangIndia.

 
Allahabad: The upcoming Ardh Kumbh Mela 2019 being held in Uttar Pradesh may create joblessness for scores of people working in the leather and tannery sectors. The Yogi Adityanath government had passed an order to close tanneries and meat factories in Kanpur and Unnao for three months during the congregation from December 15 to March 15.
 
The state government had said that this decision was taken to provide clean water to participating devotees.
 
Close to 264 small and big tanneries operate Kanpur and Unnao. Taj Alam, the president of the UP Leather Industries Association (LIA), told PTI the state government’s move has come as a shock for the leather industry and meat processing units.
 
Alam said the complete closure of tanneries could spell trouble for over three lakh workers who hail from socially and economically backward community and are engaged in the industry.
 
The leather and leather goods export business and domestic sales from Kanpur and Unnao are around Rs. 20 billion a month each and the complete closure would hit business worth over Rs. 120 billion, Alam feared. “There will be large-scale job loss if the ban is not revoked.”
 
He said that this was the first time that tanneries have been asked to close during Kumbh. “Previously, during Kumbhs tanneries were told to shut the wet operations four to five days before every shahi snan. Shutting down for three months would result in losses. What about the people who are employed in the tanneries and what happens to export orders?” said Alam.
 
Unnao district has seven meat processing units with a combined annual turnover of Rs. 100 billion. The winter days are its peak season and the ban on tanneries will seriously hit the meat export business, the Business Standard reported.
 
Alam said the effluent released from tanneries into the Ganga may not be even half as polluting as the untreated water released from various towns along the river.
 
The tanners treat the water thrice before releasing it into the river, Alam said, adding the water from the plants is diverted to Rai Bareli and 80 per cent of the waste water does not reach the Ganga and this has been shown in the inquiry report made jointly by top administrative and irrigation department officials of Unnao district just a fortnight back.
 
This news first started doing the rounds in May and UP has become notorious for mob lynching incidents where cow vigilantes have attacked and killed cattle traders and farmers.
 
The Kumbh Mela is a congressional Hindu pilgrimage in which devotees gather to bathe in river Ganga. The Ardh Kumbh will be held in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) from January 15 to March 4, 2019.

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