Often, we’ve noticed how some ruffians think that encroaching public properties or roads in the name of religion is their fundamental right, and they haven’t hesitated from exhibiting it time and again. Be it blocking roads for their routine prayers, or creating unwanted structures at places like railway stations and platforms, you name it and the anti-social elements have done it. But not anymore.
In an emphatic decision, the Yogi Adityanath-led UP government has made it clear that they won’t let encroachments in the name of religion crop up near roads or in public properties, and anyone who does so or promotes such unwanted acts shall face the strictest action from the government.
To quote an excerpt from a report by Dainik Jagran on the same – “The Uttar Pradesh government, led by Yogi Adityanath, has now instructed to get all the religious sites created illegally near roadside and on public property removed. The Home Department has issued a circular in this regard to all the commissioners and District Magistrates in the same regard. Also, it has been declared that all the concerned authorities should be duly intimated about when and how many encroachments have to be removed. These changes have been incorporated keeping the guidelines of the Allahabad High Court’s rulings in this regard.”
But how this would happen? According to the government, anyone who has been involved in making such encroachments in the name of religion or promoting the construction of the same shall be duly punished by the government. According to the rulings of the Allahabad High Court, any religious encroachment created after 2011 shall be removed with immediate effect.
To quote an extract from Dainik Jagran further, “The concerned officials should also ensure that no encroachment should remain at any roadside or any other public property. Neither the public should have any inconvenience nor should any other normal activity be affected due to any kind of religious gatherings”.
There is no need of any rocket science to establish as to how some people block roads for their routine prayers, and how some people think it is okay to establish ‘Dargahs’ on railway platforms or within any railway station premises. With their recent ruling, Yogi Adityanath led UP administration has made it clear – Refrain from such actions or face serious consequences. This is not only revolutionary, but also an ideal programme that must be implemented throughout the length and breadth of India.
If Yogi is able to implement it by the book, then it will surely be a great achievement in a state like UP.