Uttarakhand launches 'Operation Kalanemi' to target fake saints ahead of Kanwar Yatra: CM Dhami

A day ahead of the Kanwar Yatra, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Thursday said that the state government has launched 'Operation Kalanemi' to take strict action against imposters who are duping people in the name of 'Sanatan Dharma' and hurting religious sentiments.

In a post on X, the chief minister said several cases have come to light in the state where anti-social elements have been found deceiving people, particularly women, by posing as saints and seers.

"This not only hurts the religious sentiments of people but also tarnishes the image of social harmony and Sanatan tradition. Strict action will be taken against such elements, regardless of their religion," Dhami said.

Drawing a parallel with 'asur' (demon) Kalanemi, who tried to mislead people by disguising himself as a saint, Dhami said there are many such "Kalanemis" in society who are committing crimes under the guise of religion.

"Our government is fully committed to protecting public sentiments, upholding the dignity of Sanatan culture, and maintaining social harmony. Those spreading hypocrisy in the name of faith will not be spared," he said.

The chief minister's remarks came ahead of the start of the Shravan Kanwar Yatra, in which lakhs of Kanwariyas from different states converge in Haridwar to collect holy Ganga water. The devotees then perform 'Abhishek' of Lord Shiva at their local temples on Shivratri.

The fortnight-long yatra sees a steady rise in footfall each year. Last year, over four crore Kanwariyas visited Haridwar and Rishikesh during the yatra, officials said.

In view of the large crowds and potential threats posed by criminals disguised as Kanwariyas, the police and administration have made elaborate security arrangements.

Dhami recently held a review meeting to assess preparedness and directed officials to learn from past challenges and plug gaps in law and order enforcement.

He said effective security measures must be implemented to prevent any kind of vandalism or disruption, and called for thorough verification of camp operators, workers, volunteers, and individuals staying in hotels and dharamshalas.