Latest news with #Gangwar
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- New Indian Express
Monsoon fury fails to deter Char Dham pilgrims; Over 40 lakh devotees flock to Uttarakhand shrines amid inclement weather
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand's revered Char Dham Yatra continues its remarkable momentum, drawing an unprecedented number of pilgrims despite the relentless monsoon season. Even before July concludes, the pilgrim count has soared past the 40 lakh mark, with over three months of the sacred journey still remaining this year. The 84-day pilgrimage, which commenced on April 30, has seen Kedarnath Dham emerge as the most frequented, welcoming a staggering 14.19 lakh devotees. However, the spiritual journey remains fraught with challenges. Heavy rainfall has triggered widespread landslides and debris flow, leading to the closure of 54 roads across the state, including two crucial national highways. This has caused significant inconvenience for both local residents and the scores of pilgrims. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, the Joshimath-Malari-Niti National Highway in Chamoli district is currently blocked near Bhapkund due to a massive rockfall. The closure even stranded 11 polling parties dispatched from Joshimath for the upcoming Panchayat elections, preventing them from reaching their designated polling stations late into the evening. Similarly, the Ghatiabagarh-Lipulekh-Gunji National Highway in Pithoragarh is impassable near Lamari (Kilometer 11 milestone). District-wise, road closures include five in Uttarkashi, six in Tehri, seven in Rudraprayag, nine in Pithoragarh, eleven in Pauri, one in Nainital, three in Dehradun, ten in Chamoli, and one each in Almora and Bageshwar. Despite these formidable hurdles, the pace of the Char Dham Yatra shows no signs of slowing down. "The Char Dham Yatra began on April 30. While the monsoon's onset initially slowed the pace, the pilgrimage has continued robustly despite severe weather challenges," said Yogendra Gangwar, Joint Director of the Yatra Division at the Uttarakhand Tourism Department. "As of Wednesday, after 85 days of the journey, over 4.06 million pilgrims have visited Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, and Hemkund Sahib," Gangwar added. Gangwar highlighted the dramatic increase in daily visitors, which has surged from just over 8,000 on July 13 to a remarkable 30,000 now. Pilgrim Count by Dham (as of Wednesday):
Hans India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Congress' memory has weakened, says UP Minister Gangwar on Udit Raj's caste jibe
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Minister Sanjay Gangwar on Thursday launched a blistering attack on the Congress for raking up the caste issue time and again for its "vested" interests. Taking aim at the Congress and its 'Yuvraj' (an apparent reference to Congress scion and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi), Minister of State for Sugarcane Development and Sugar Mills Gangwar said that the party's memory has weakened. Minister Gangwar's remark came two days after Congress leader Udit Raj stirred a row by questioning the government's "partisan" approach in picking astronauts, and "depriving" Dalits of the privilege "despite there being many educated" candidates. After hailing astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla's achievements, Udit Raj said people from backward communities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were being denied a similar opportunity. "When Rakesh Sharma was sent for the first time, there were not many educated people from SC/ST/OBC communities. But this time, someone could have been sent from these communities. There was no exam for this; it was purely a government selection," Udit Raj had pointed out. Hitting back at the Congress, Minister Gangwar asserted that the BJP works with the mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwaas' and reminded the grand old party that President Droupadi Murmu belongs to the Adivasi community and former President Ram Nath Kovind hailed from the Dalit community. He accused the Congress of "dividing" the country, the Army and jawans on the basis of caste and described it as a "living example of the grand old party's cheap mentality". Udit Raj's remark drew ire from a Congress leader too. Congress MP from Bihar, Manoj Kumar, cautioned Udit Raj against the politicisation of issues of national and strategic importance. BJP leader Ram Kadam slammed the Congress leader, saying that such assignments require intellectual ability and professional acumen, and caste has no role to play in such space programmes. The SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, carrying Shukla and three other astronauts on the Axiom-4 Mission, landed in the Pacific off the Southern California coast on July 15.
NDTV
16-07-2025
- NDTV
No Intention To Offend Anyone: UP Teacher After Case Over Kanwar Yatra Song
Bareilly (UP): A teacher in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district has issued a video statement expressing regret after a police case against him over a song referencing the ongoing Kanwar yatra. Rajneesh Gangwar, who teaches at MGM Inter College, claimed that he is neither anti-religion nor anti-government, but rather a supporter of both, and expressed regret if his words inadvertently hurt anyone's sentiments. District Inspector of Schools Ajit Kumar Singh said an inquiry into the video has been conducted and a clarification was obtained from the teacher. "The teacher's intention was not malicious, and it appears that the video has been deliberately circulated to stir controversy," he said. Circle Officer Arun Kumar Singh said investigation into the matter is ongoing. The controversy erupted after a video circulated on social media that purportedly showed Gangwar singing a song to students with lyrics that roughly translate to: "Don't bring Kanwars, go light the lamp of knowledge, serve humanity and become a true human." Following the video's circulation, local BJP leaders and members of the Mahakal Seva Samiti lodged a complaint with the police. Subsequently, on Monday night, Baheri police registered a case against Gangwar under Section 353(2) of the BNS, pertaining to making statements containing false information, rumour, or alarming news. In his clarification video and a letter sent to the school principal on July 15, Gangwar explained that he "noticed a continuous decline in student attendance at MGM Inter College. Upon questioning, he learned that many young students were absent due to their participation in the Kanwar Yatra." He stated that it was in this context that he recited the poem to students during the morning assembly on July 12. His primary objective, he clarified, was "to make young students aware of the dangers of going into crowded areas on roads, staying away from intoxication, and maintaining regular attendance in class." He asserted that he had "no intention of offending anyone's religious sentiments". Gangwar also highlighted his literary background, noting that he holds a PhD in Hindi literature from Allahabad University, and his poems and articles are regularly published in All India Radio, Doordarshan, and reputable newspapers. He alleged that "some individuals, driven by envy, are attempting to tarnish his image by levelling false accusations." He emphasised that his "sole purpose is to educate and enlighten students about life's objectives". Furthermore, he mentioned his roles as the "city president of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Baheri unit, and the brand ambassador for Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban) under the government of India for the past four years".
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Oppn. comes out in support of U.P. teacher booked by police over verse on Kanwar Yatra
Opposition leaders in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday came out in support of a teacher from Bareilly, who was booked under Section 353 (2) (making statements containing false information, rumour or alarming news) of the BNS for his poem, parts of which referred to the Kanwar Yatra. The FIR against Rajneesh Gangwar, a teacher at Bareilly's MGM Inter College, was registered on July 13, based on a complaint by an outfit named Kanwar Seva Samiti. The video of Mr. Gangwar reciting the poem, which recently went viral on social media, contains a portion where he says, 'Kanwar leke mat jana, tum gyan ka deep jalana, manavta ke seva karke tum sachche manav ban jaana [Don't get pots of holy water from the Ganga, light the lamp of knowledge, become a true human by serving humanity].' Sharing the video of Mr. Gangwar reciting the poem, former U.P. Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said in a post on X in Hindi, 'The greatest religion is that which leads us on the path of humanity.' Attacking the ruling BJP, Congress leader Anil Yadav said that while the Constitution promotes scientific thinking, humanism, and the spirit of inquiry among citizens, which Mr. Gangwar was trying to promote through his verse, elements in the State government aim to encourage 'superstition and irrationality and suppress voices'. Meanwhile, in a purported video on Tuesday, Mr. Gangwar said his poem was meant to educate students, and his intention was not to express negative sentiments about the yatra. 'If you listen to the whole poem, it was recited to educate children and tell them about incidents happening related to kanwariyas.'
Scroll.in
15-07-2025
- Scroll.in
FIR against UP school teacher for reciting poem allegedly critical of Kanwar Yatra
The Uttar Pradesh Police have booked a government school teacher in Bareilly for reciting a poem allegedly critical of the Kanwar Yatra during the morning assembly in school, The Indian Express reported on Tuesday. The poem, recited by Rajneesh Gangwar, had sparked protests by residents demanding action against the teacher. The first information report against Gangwar was filed based on a complaint by the Kanwar Seva Samiti. He was booked under a section of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita about statements conducing to public mischief. Gangwar has not been arrested so far and the investigation is on, the newspaper quoted Baheri Station House Officer Sanjay Tomar as saying. A video widely shared on social media showed Gangwar reciting a poem saying that one should not 'embark on the Kanwar Yatra' and instead 'light the lamp of knowledge'. "Don't embark on kanwar yatra, light the lamp of knowledge instead," UP govt teacher's poem lands him in soup A complaint was registered against govt teacher Rajneesh Gangwar in UP's Bareilly over the poem he recited. In the five-minute video, the teacher is purportedly heard… — Piyush Rai (@Benarasiyaa) July 14, 2025 During the Kanwar Yatra, devotees, called Kanwariyas, walk hundreds of kilometres to collect water from the Ganga near Haridwar and carry it back to their home states to offer at temples. The devotees mainly come from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Madhya Pradesh.
