Saturday, 03 April 2021 | PNS | Haridwar
The disturbance arising here after the deputy Kumbh Mela officer Harbir Singh was roughed up in the Bairagi camp on Thursday evening appears to have been resolved for now with members of the Nirmohi Akhada welcoming and garlanding the officer on Friday.
After hoisting of the Dharm Dwaja during the Kumbh Mela on Friday, Singh reached Nirmohi Akhada where he was welcomed by the Mahant Rajendra Das with flowers and a garland. Stating that elements involved in the altercation could not have been saints of the Akhada, the officer said that now there is no dispute between him and the Akhada. It should be mentioned here the Akhil Bharatiya Akhada (ABAP) had taken serious cognisance of the incident and decided to hold an internal discussion to decide the course of action.
It is pertinent to mention here that due to the uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic the previous chief minister had directed that the Kumbh Mela be held in a limited manner. However, considering public sentiments, the current chief minister Tirath Singh Rawat directed that unnecessary restrictions be lifted. This increased the pressure on the authorities to ensure necessary facilities. Despite various works being done, some of the works in the Bairagi camp had not been completed which had caused discontent among some members of the religious fraternity. Works like supply of electricity and water, and toilets had not been completed here. It was regarding this that Singh had gone to talk with the Sadhus when he was roughed up by some persons on Thursday evening.
