Why Pushkar Dhami ordered ‘Operation Kaalnemi' during Kanwar Yatra
'Just as the demon Kaalnemi tried to mislead people by disguising himself as a saint, similarly, many Kaalnemi are active in society, who are committing crimes by disguising themselves as religious people. Our government is fully committed to protecting public sentiments, the dignity of Sanatan culture and maintaining social harmony. Those who spread hypocrisy in the name of faith will not be spared under any circumstances,' said Dhami.According to data shared by the Uttarakhand police, 52 such imposters have been caught so far in Haridwar. In Udham Singh Nagar, police said, several people were posing as 'Peer Fakir Baba' and preying on the poor and distressed. Police there have detained 66 such people.In Dehradun, police have arrested 111 people over the past four days. 'The police are also keeping a close watch on people of a particular religion who cheat innocent people in the name of exorcism by showing fear of witchcraft, divine wrath, etc. Imposters coming from West Bengal, Bihar and other states are playing with the religious sentiments of the common people. The impostor may belong to any religion. If involved in such activities, action will be taken,' the Dehradun police said in a statement.Last year, during the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand police had ordered all eateries and shops to display their names clearly—a move that drew criticism for being seen to identify Muslim-owned establishments. Many believe Operation Kaalnemi resembles that earlier effort in the sense that it too targets a specific concern linked to faith during the yatra.advertisementWhile the stated aim this time is to act against religious imposters, the pattern of special measures during the Kanwar Yatra suggests a recurring anxiety about those seen as outsiders within the larger religious space.As the number of arrests under Operation Kaalnemi rises, Dhami has warned that 'all those living as impostors should either reveal their true identities or be prepared for strict action'. He has also appealed to the public to help identify suspected imposters.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- Ends
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Why Pushkar Dhami ordered ‘Operation Kaalnemi' during Kanwar Yatra
As the Kanwar Yatra, the annual pilgrimage of Shiva devotees, picks momentum, the Uttarakhand government has started a first-of-its-kind 'Operation Kaalnemi' to take action against imposters defrauding people in the name of Sanatan earlier this week on the orders of chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the operation mainly targets the plains districts of Dehradun, Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar. In just a few days, the police have detained over 220 'fake' this week, Dhami announced he has given instructions to officers to start Operation Kaalnemi. 'Many cases have come to light in the state wherein anti-social elements are cheating people, especially women, by disguising themselves as saints and sages. This is not only hurting the religious sentiments of people but also harming the image of social harmony and Sanatan tradition. In such a situation, if a person of any religion is found doing such acts, strict action will be taken,' Dhami posted on Kaalnemi draws its name from Kaalnemi, a demon in the Ramayana known for deceit. According to the epic, when Lakshman was wounded in battle, Lord Hanuman was sent to bring the life-restoring Sanjeevani herb. Ravan, desperate to stop him, summoned Kaalnemi to mislead Lord Hanuman. Disguised as a sage, Kaalnemi set up an ashram along Hanuman's path, hoping to trick him. But Lord Hanuman saw through the disguise and killed Kaalnemi before continuing on his mission. 'Just as the demon Kaalnemi tried to mislead people by disguising himself as a saint, similarly, many Kaalnemi are active in society, who are committing crimes by disguising themselves as religious people. Our government is fully committed to protecting public sentiments, the dignity of Sanatan culture and maintaining social harmony. Those who spread hypocrisy in the name of faith will not be spared under any circumstances,' said to data shared by the Uttarakhand police, 52 such imposters have been caught so far in Haridwar. In Udham Singh Nagar, police said, several people were posing as 'Peer Fakir Baba' and preying on the poor and distressed. Police there have detained 66 such Dehradun, police have arrested 111 people over the past four days. 'The police are also keeping a close watch on people of a particular religion who cheat innocent people in the name of exorcism by showing fear of witchcraft, divine wrath, etc. Imposters coming from West Bengal, Bihar and other states are playing with the religious sentiments of the common people. The impostor may belong to any religion. If involved in such activities, action will be taken,' the Dehradun police said in a year, during the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttarakhand police had ordered all eateries and shops to display their names clearly—a move that drew criticism for being seen to identify Muslim-owned establishments. Many believe Operation Kaalnemi resembles that earlier effort in the sense that it too targets a specific concern linked to faith during the the stated aim this time is to act against religious imposters, the pattern of special measures during the Kanwar Yatra suggests a recurring anxiety about those seen as outsiders within the larger religious the number of arrests under Operation Kaalnemi rises, Dhami has warned that 'all those living as impostors should either reveal their true identities or be prepared for strict action'. He has also appealed to the public to help identify suspected to India Today Magazine- Ends
