Barsana (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 24 (IANS) Holy men, spiritual leaders and social activists here have joined hands to protest against liquor outlets in this holy town ahead of the Holi revelries.
They have constituted an 11-member committee which will present a memorandum to the district magistrate of Mathura Tuesday.
The move comes after the district magistrate said it was too late to do anything in this regard.
"It is too late now. They should have objected in January... They should wait as the state government alone can cancel the decision (to let liquor outlets function). So far no one has met me. I will, however, discuss and resolve the issue," District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar told IANS.
But priests and social activists are adamant and have demanded immediate action to shut the liquor vends in the Radha Nagri Barsana.
The group has threatened to boycott the Lathmar Holi Friday in which women as gopis hit male gopis (brajbasis) with batons, who shield their heads with leather mounted headgear. The event attracts thousands of pilgrims from all over the country.
Barsana is a holy town and the feelings of lakhs of pilgrims are hurt when they see liquor shops close to girls schools and temples, said a local priest Hari Narain.
"Every evening the drunkards crowd around these outlets and create an ugly scene, shouting and abusing," activist Mohan Yadav said.
The local unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party and lawyers have also supported the movement.
The Goswami Samaj has threatened that if the administration fails to shut the liquor vends, they would rethink whether women should be allowed to participate in the famous Lathmar Holi for which thousands of pilgrims from all parts of the country and NRIs reach Barsana.
Holy towns like Barsana should be liquor free, a mahapanchayat held Sunday demanded.
On Monday, sants and villagers announced another mahapanchayat on Tuesday, demanding a liquor-free Barsana.
The Barsana police station in-charge, however, said he had no knowledge of any such stir even though Barsana's patriarch sant Ramesh Baba has assured full support to the movement.
Meanwhile, authorities have stepped up security arrangements. Senior district officials Surendra Pal Singh and Atul Kumar Srivastav have drawn up elaborate security and traffic movement plan for the occasion when more than a lakh pilgrims are expected to witness the celebrations.
Trained divers will keep a vigil at the Gahvar Kund, Priya Kund and Vrishubhan Kund. The areas have been barricaded.
Srivastav said revellers will have to maintain dignity and that policemen in plain clothes will keep a watch on eve teasers.
The state roadways will add 65 buses to its fleet to ferry pilgrims from Barsana and Nandgaon. Eight teams of health workers and doctors will be at the spot.
(Brij Khandelwal can be contacted at brij.k@ians.in)
Manipur Violence: National Highway opened in Manipur after two months on Home Minister Shah's appeal, three were killed in firing
Violence continues in Manipur, but in the meantime, good news has come to the fore. National Highway-2 has been opened amid unrest in Manipur. Here, in the latest violence, three people have died in
China's apps slipped down the ranks of popularity
China's applications, which were once very popular in the online segment among the Indian people, are suddenly sliding down the ranks of popularity. From Tiktok, Hero, UC Browser, and Share-It apps
Nationwide demonstration of IMA against the assault on doctors, protest outside Secretariat in Kerala
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) is holding a nationwide protest today against the incidents of assault on doctors. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) is holding nationwide protests today
Children were pelted with money in Kanpur: Local leaders and people of the locality distributed money, and provoked them by feeding biryani
During the violence on June 3 in Kanpur, children also pelted stones and bombed. This has been confirmed by the investigation of CCTV footage and viral photo videos. On the orders of the National
Ram Mandir: 'The public is not with the one who is not with Lord Ram', know who said what regarding the Ram Mandir program
Preparations for the Pran Pratishtha program of Ram Temple are at their peak. Many opposition leaders have also been invited to participate in the Ram Mandir program. Many opposition leaders have
Victoria Memorial, Museum blackout in Kolkata for Earth Hour
Kolkata, March 28 (IANS) As millions of people across the globe pledged to switch off non-essential lights for an hour to observe the Earth Hour, the city's iconic Victoria Memorial and the Indian
Lockdown: Retail sector devastated in last 60 days, loss of Rs 9 lakh crore
New Delhi: Due to the opening of only a few select shops in lockdown and the closure of everything else, the retail business has broken its back. According to the Confederation of All India Traders
If Pakistan does not leave Abhinandan then how does it destroy Pakistan? BS Dhanova explained what the Air Force preparations were
Pakistan MP Ayaz Sadiq has made a sensational claim about Indian Wing Commander Abhinandan Vardhaman that Pakistan had released Wing Commander Abhinandan in a hurry due to fear of India's attack. This
Godzilla X Kong: Godzilla x Kong is ready to make a big start at the Indian box office, expected to earn this much on the first day
'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' is all set to rock the Indian box office. Booking of the film has been good so far, due to which it is believed that the film will get a good opening at the ticket
Lava Yuva Pro Smartphone Launched in India, 5000 mAh Battery and Triple Rear Camera at Affordable Price
Lava Yuva Pro Smartphone Launched in India: Lava's new and affordable smartphone Lava Yuva Pro has been launched in India. This has been introduced specifically for entry-level smartphone users. A
