Glass pieces found scattered along Kanwar Yatra route in Delhi, BJP raises alarm

A controversy has erupted in Delhi after several BJP leaders claimed that broken glass pieces were deliberately scattered along the Kanwar Yatra route in Shahdara.

BJP MLA Sanjay Goyal alleged that for the past two days, large quantities of glass shards have been found strewn across the road used by kanwariyas. "Yesterday, when we inspected the route, we saw glass scattered over nearly a one-kilometre stretch," the MLA said, adding that this posed a serious risk to the barefoot devotees.

Even Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra reiterated the claims, saying that Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has taken serious note of the matter.

"Some mischievous elements scattered glass pieces along the Kanwar Yatra route for nearly a kilometre. PWD and municipal workers are cleaning the route. Local MLA Sanjay Goyal ji is present there. CM Rekha Gupta has personally taken cognisance of the incident," Mishra posted on X.

Following the complaint from the BJP leader and the Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Police has launched an investigation into the matter. Workers from the PWD and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have been deployed to clear the route and ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

A PWD worker, while speaking to India Today TV, said that shards of glass are still visible at some spots despite continuous cleaning efforts by civic staff.

The Kanwar Yatra, which began on Friday, has seen lakhs of devotees from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and other neighbouring states travel to Haridwar to collect holy water from the Ganga. Devotees, clad in saffron, gather the sacred water and carry it back to their hometowns to perform 'jalabhishek' at Shiva temples during the month of Shravan.

Authorities expect this year's yatra to witness a turnout of six to seven crore kanwariyas — higher than the four crore recorded last year. Tight security and elaborate arrangements have been put in place to manage the massive crowds along the route.

The Delhi Police, along with the municipal corporation, have put in place special traffic and security arrangements to ensure a smooth passage for devotees during the Kanwar Yatra.

Last week, Rekha Gupta on Saturday chaired a high-level review meeting to take stock of preparations for welcoming Kanwariyas during the holy month of Shravan.

Following the meeting, Gupta informed that the Delhi government has received a record 374 applications to set up Kanwar camps this year, more than double last year's 170, indicating heightened enthusiasm among devotees.

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