Even if the wounds of 2nd Covid wave are still to heal and continue to haunt the country, a fresh round of ‘preparations’ are in full swing to make sure there is no delay for new ones. Uttar Pradesh government has displayed an enviable degree of determination in going ahead with the Kanwar yatra, a religious event of great enthusiasm and congregation scheduled to commence in the state from July 25. When all appeals for a halt are being disregarded, the Supreme Court on Wednesday  finally made an intervention through a suo motu cognisance. The issue has taken a new dimension due to a rare development- while the Uttarakhand government has decided to say “no”, its counterpart, the UP government has given the green signal. The curious difference in decisions by these two states, both BJP-ruled, has raised eyebrows and even the Justices of the apex court during hearing have said : “Citizens of India are completely perplexed and don’t know what is going on.” Perplexity that is now overwhelming is just not due to the fact that opposite views are being aired by the two states ruled by the same political party, but due to the fact that hardly any lesson has been learnt from the aftermath of the Kumbh Mela organised in April last.
A few facts will endorse the apprehension surrounding the Kanwar yatra. As per reports, in 2019 when the yatra was organised last, approximately 3.5 crore devotees visited Haridwar plus around 2-3 crore in various pilgrimage spots scattered in western UP. In July-August 2021 when the 2nd Covid wave is still prominent and the 3rd one anxious to make an entry, even if a half of the above devotees throng the places, the after-effects will be devastating to say the least. Union Health Ministry’s data on Covid caseloads on Thursday morning have shown that 41,806 new cases have been added in the last 24 hours, a day earlier which was 38,792. It’s necessary to observe a few more days to arrive at an assessment if the 2nd wave has again regained strength or the 3rd wave has silently set its foot. Despite the ‘editions’ of the pandemic, the fact remains that Covid is active and as such, allowing a massive assembly of people from all corners of the country will be suicidal. The SC has directed the Centre and the governments of UP and Uttarakhand to submit affidavits on Friday, the date for next hearing.
There is still time to avert the great mistake in the making. The UP government shouldn’t hesitate to cancel the event. How could the medical-science-supported fact that ‘ripples’ from super-spreader events of this kind will not be restricted to the centres of festivals only, but will touch the entire country eventually, be so conveniently disregarded? 

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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