Anti-social elements infiltrating Kanwar Yatra, will be unmasked: Yogi Adityanath
Since the yatra began, social media platforms have been flooded with videos showing individuals dressed in saffron—commonly worn by kanwariyas—engaging in vandalism, creating ruckus on roads, and assaulting civilians. Adityanath claimed that these individuals are miscreants infiltrating Kanwar groups to tarnish their image.'Unmask them, keep them away from you at all costs. Do not allow them to enter your circle. Immediately inform the administration about this,' he said.The Chief Minister, who showered flowers on kanwariyas earlier in the day, warned that those attempting to defame the Yatra or compromise its sanctity will face strict action. He also urged people against taking matters into their own hands.'It is the responsibility of every Kanwar Sangh and every Shiv bhakt to expose such elements and immediately inform the authorities,' Adityanath said. 'The entire Yatra route is under CCTV surveillance, and once the Yatra concludes, strict action will be taken against those identified. Their posters will also be displayed publicly.'His remarks came a day after seven kanwariyas were arrested for assaulting a CRPF jawan following an argument over train tickets at Mirzapur railway station. The incident was caught on CCTV and the footage went viral.Last week, the UP Chief Minister had said that Kanwariyas were being unfairly labelled as 'terrorists and rioters' and denounced what he described as a concerted effort to malign the annual pilgrimage.Incidents of violence involving kanwariyas have been reported across Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring Uttarakhand in recent days. Offences range from vandalism over minor provocations to physical assault.In light of these cases, the Uttar Pradesh government imposed a ban on carrying items like baseball bats and hockey sticks along the Kanwar pilgrimage route.- EndsMust Watch
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While many still uphold the Yatra's true spirit – offering food, shelter, and flowers to pilgrims – the rising violence tarnishes its sanctity. A visible minority has hijacked perceptions of the event. The state's failure to curb this aggression risks normalising faith-based vigilantism, eroding the very pluralism the Constitution seeks to protect. Sociologist Santosh Singh has rightly argued that the Kanwar Yatra was a path of penance and pain, not spectacle and violence. 'Today, are we even listening to our gods and what they signify in essence?' he wrote in The Indian Express. The Kanwar Yatra must return to its roots – a journey of discipline, not domination. The state must enforce the law equally, ensuring that no religion enjoys a free pass for violence. Civil society, too, must resist the politicisation of faith and uphold the true essence of devotion – peace, humility and respect for all. Otherwise, what was once a sacred pilgrimage risks becoming an annual ritual of fear and division.
