Under our double engine sarkars are kawadiyas above the law. A school van carrying children was attacked by a group of kawadiyas in Lucknow's Chowk, historically a Muslim-dominated area of the capital city.
“Aren't these violent men, some of whom also move freely on busy roads while being intoxicated, actually hurting this holy yatra?”
Under our double engine sarkars are kawadiyas above the law. A school van carrying children was attacked by a group of kawadiyas in Lucknow's Chowk, historically a Muslim-dominated area of the capital city. Six kawadiyatris on three motorcycles allegedly threw stones and broke the red windshield and a side mirror of the van with their hands. What angered these kawadiyas was a minor collision. The van-ferrying kids accidentally brushed into one of the three motorcycles after the driver hit the brakes suddenly because of the rain. That was enough to make the Kavadiyas go rogue, leaving these school children extremely scared on their way back home, according to their parents. As per reports, the parents say that the police initially refused to file a complaint against the Kavadiyas and instead threatened to seize the school van on the grounds that it did not have proper documents. Now, this is not an isolated incident. This week itself, another incident was reported from UP's Meerat, where a policeman was left injured in a clash between two groups of Kavadiyatris. Again, the trigger was a coward kept on the road being struck by a motorcycle. Now, this spiritual pilgrimage is mythologically associated with the Samudra Manthan, Lord Shiva's supreme sacrifice of drinking the poison to save humanity and Goddess Parvati giving him Ganga Jal to cool his throat. But increasingly, this yatra is being tainted by some saffron-clad men going rogue on the streets unleashing violence and vandalism while the police are very often seen either siding with the violent Kavadiyas or simply remaining silent spectators According to independent estimates nearly 170 cases of violence and disorder involving Kavadiyatris were reported last year. In fact, a CRPF Jawan was beaten up by a group of Kavadiyas last year at a railway station. A school bus was vandalized and its driver was assaulted. In most of these cases, the pattern is almost the same. Even slight contact with a vehicle or a minor collision, which is bound to happen because they share roads with regular commuters, becomes an excuse to unleash violence. The justification offered is that this is a targeted attempt to make their Kavad Yatra impure. More often than not, these clashes take place in Muslim-dominated areas. And apart from the police appearing almost subservient in many cases, chief ministers of these BJP-ruled states have also been seen washing the feet of Kavadiyas, shutting schools and even issuing diktats like Muslim shop owners must display their names along the Kava route. Now let me clarify, the number of violent incidents reported is much smaller than the total number of pilgrims who undertake this yatra but the question here is about the state's response. On the one hand, peaceful protesters are lathi-charged, assaulted but on the other hand, is a free pass being given to a group of people simply because they wear saffron? Aren't these violent men, some of whom also move freely on busy roads while being intoxicated, actually hurting this holy yatra? Tell us what you think in the comments and follow Peak TV for more such honest journalism.
