“Festive spirit should be maintained and no mischief should be allowed,” CM Yogi’s strong message ahead of festivals

Lucknow : Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held a high-level review meeting with senior government officials on Wednesday evening to ensure strong law and order, a peaceful atmosphere, and proper public facilities during the upcoming festivals. He said that the festive spirit should be maintained and no mischief should be allowed.

In the meeting, the CM held an extensive discussion with all Police Commissioners, Divisional Commissioners, District Magistrates, and Senior Superintendents of Police. He gave clear instructions that all upcoming festivals should be celebrated with devotion, safety, and harmony. He emphasized that the entire administrative machinery must work with full sensitivity and alertness.

The Chief Minister informed that the holy month of Shravan will be observed from July 11 to August 9, during which festivals like the traditional Kanwar Yatra, Shravani Shivratri, Nag Panchami, and Raksha Bandhan will take place. Alongside this, the Jagannath Rath Yatra is expected from June 27 to July 8, and Muharram may also be observed between June 27 and July 6/7.

He added that this entire period is very sensitive from the point of view of law and order, healthcare, cleanliness, education, and disaster management. Therefore, all concerned departments and district administrations must work in coordination and carry out their duties responsibly.

The CM gave special instructions for the peaceful and dignified conduct of the Kanwar Yatra. He said the yatra is a symbol of faith, discipline, and celebration. Districts like Ghaziabad, Meerut, Bareilly, Ayodhya, Prayagraj, Kashi, Barabanki, and Basti — especially those near the Uttarakhand border — should remain extra alert. He emphasized that inter-state coordination should be maintained at all times.

CM Yogi said that the sound from DJs, drums, and other musical instruments along the yatra route must remain within prescribed limits. Loud, disturbing noises, provocative slogans, and any deviation from traditional routes will not be allowed under any circumstances. He also said the height of DJs used in Tazia, Rath, or Kanwar processions must stay within the fixed limits. He strictly warned that cutting trees, removing slums, or evicting the poor for any religious procession is absolutely unacceptable.

The CM further made it clear that the display of weapons and political use of religious symbols during such events disturbs harmony and must be strictly prohibited. Entry of restricted animals on the procession routes should be prevented. Social media must be closely monitored, and drones can be used for surveillance if needed. Quick fact-checking and timely dissemination of accurate information are essential to counter fake news and rumors.

Given the large number of devotees who participate in the Kanwar Yatra, there is a possibility of miscreants entering in disguise. Keeping this in mind, the Chief Minister instructed all districts to stay alert. He directed local police stations and administrative units to stay in touch with Kanwar organizations and review all arrangements in advance. He reiterated that while respecting devotees’ religious sentiments is a top priority, no mischief-maker should be given a chance.

Giving top priority to the convenience of devotees, CM Yogi directed that no open sale of meat or similar items should take place along the Kanwar Yatra routes. Proper arrangements must be made for cleanliness, sanitization, street lighting, drinking water, toilets, and basic medical aid along the journey path. Any damaged electric poles or hanging wires should be repaired immediately. Camps set up by organizations should be verified, and public convenience centers should be run with their help.

During the holy month of Shravan, especially on Mondays, a large number of devotees visit Shiva temples across the state. To manage this, the Panchayati Raj and Urban Development departments have been instructed to make early preparations for cleanliness, drainage, and traffic control near temples in villages, towns, and cities. Strict enforcement against the use of banned plastic (polythene) was also ordered.

To prevent complaints of overpricing during the Kanwar Yatra, he directed that food item rates along the route must be fixed and strictly followed. Like last year, every shop must clearly display the owner’s name. Expressing concern over recent complaints of overpricing of fertilizers, the Chief Minister asked District Magistrates to conduct surprise inspections and take strict action against those found guilty.

Regarding Muharram processions, he stressed that lessons must be learned from incidents of the past. All necessary preparations should be completed in advance. Peace Committees and organizing groups should be involved to ensure that all processions take place peacefully and along their traditional routes.

A particularly sensitive issue discussed in the meeting was the planned attempts to incite caste-based violence. The Chief Minister said that some miscreants are trying to disturb harmony in the state, pointing to recent incidents in Kaushambi, Etawah, and Auraiya as proof.

Issuing a stern warning, he said, “Such evil attempts go against the interests of the state and will not be tolerated under any circumstances.” He instructed officials to expose these conspiracies immediately, publicly identify the culprits, and take the strictest possible legal action against them. He added that officials must not wait for orders from higher authorities—swift, lawful action must be taken on the ground.

On public grievance redressal, he reviewed the status of applications received via the CM Helpline and IGRS Portal. He pointed out that some districts are not performing satisfactorily in this regard. Those districts must immediately improve their functioning, or they will be held accountable.

At the end of the meeting, the Chief Minister also spoke about the ‘School Pairing Policy.’ He explained that some schools under the Basic Education Council are being paired for the overall benefit of teachers, students, and parents. This process should be transparent, inclusive, and aligned with local needs. District Magistrates must ensure it is implemented smoothly and effectively.