Two mosques and a Mazar in Haridwar, located along the route of the ongoing Kanwar Yatra, were hidden from view using large white sheets on Friday morning. By evening, the district administration had removed the sheets, with the police saying what happened was a mistake.
While the administration claimed they had not issued any order to put up the sheets, the Haridwar district in-charge minister Satpal Maharaj said the measure was taken to prevent any agitation or unrest and to ensure the smooth progression of the Kanwar Yatra.
The Yatra route in Haridwar passes through the Jwalapur area of the city, where the mosques and the Mazar are located. This is the first time such a thing has happened.
Asked about the move, Satpal Maharaj said, “If this is done, it is so that there is no agitation and no flare up. It was kept in mind that our Kanwar Yatra should go smoothly. When there is any construction, that structure is also covered… We have done (the same) here and will see what feedback we get. We will study that.”
The Supreme Court on Friday said shopkeepers along the Kanwar Yatra route could voluntarily display the names of its owners and employees outside its premises. The top court, however, said its interim order, staying the directives by Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments, would continue.
The Supreme Court said the stay order would continue till August 5, the next hearing date. The court asked the Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments to file their responses in a week.
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