In a surprising move during the ongoing Kanwar Yatra in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, the facades of two mosques and a mazar along the yatra route were covered with large white sheets on Friday. This action, purportedly taken to “prevent trouble,” sparked objections from various quarters, leading to the removal of the sheets by evening.
The sheets were draped over bamboo scaffoldings set up in front of the religious structures located in the Jwalapur area. According to the mosque’s maulana and the mazar’s caretakers, they were unaware of any administrative orders mandating this action. They noted that this was an unprecedented measure during the yatra.
Despite multiple attempts, the Haridwar senior superintendent of police and the district magistrate were unavailable for comments. However, Cabinet minister Satpal Maharaj addressed the media, stating that the action was intended to maintain peace. “Any such thing is done only to prevent trouble,” he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. He further downplayed the incident, comparing it to covering buildings under construction.
The district administration ultimately decided to remove the sheets following objections from locals and political figures. Danish Ali, a special police officer (SPO) appointed for the yatra’s management, confirmed the removal orders came from the railway police post. “We received orders from the railway police post to remove the curtains. That is why we have come to remove these,” PTI quoted Ali as saying.
The move was met with criticism from various leaders. Congress leader and former minister Naeem Qureshi expressed his shock, highlighting the harmony traditionally exhibited during the Kanwar Yatra. “We Muslims always welcome Shiv bhakts (devotees) for the kanwar fair and arrange refreshments for them at various places. This has been an example of harmony between Hindus and Muslims in Haridwar, and there has never been a tradition of curtains,” he said.
Before the kanwar mela began, a meeting was held by the administration, where members from both the Hindu and Muslim communities were appointed as SPOs to ensure smooth coordination. One of the mazar’s caretakers, Shakeel Ahmad, emphasized the lack of communication regarding the decision. “No one spoke with the caretakers about this — covering the religious structure,” he said, noting that kanwariyas often rest under the shade of trees outside these places.
Congress leader and former district panchayat president Rao Afaque Ali also criticized the move, stating, “It has never happened earlier. Some kanwariyas also go to mosques to pay obeisance. India is a country where everyone takes care of every religion and caste. Today mosques are being covered, what will happen if temples are covered in this manner tomorrow?”
Uttarakhand Congress vice president Suryakant Dhasmana condemned the action as a “contempt of the Supreme Court” and accused the ruling BJP of not learning from its electoral defeats. “The message it has missed is that the entire country is one. BJP’s divisive and discriminatory politics has been rejected. But the party is not learning,” he said.