Samajwadi Party MLA Mohammad Ziauddin Rizvi has made a controversial comment on the Kandar Yatra going on during the holy month of Sawan in UP. He said that neither children of a big leader are involved in this journey nor any industrialist, but most of the people who are illiterate and superstition of the village participate in it.
His statement has launched a debate about religious faith and social class.
Minister’s answer to Shiva devotion
Reacting to the statement of the SP MLA, Dayashankar Singh, Minister of State for Transport (Independent Charge), Government of Uttar Pradesh, gave a sharp reply. He said that Shiva devotion is a matter related to faith and education is not necessary for this. He emphasized that crores of people take water with full dedication and travel to Kavad and offer it to Shiva.
Former minister raised serious questions
Rizvi, who was former cabinet minister, also questioned why the son of an IAS or PCS officer, or the son of BJP MP-MLA did not appear till now in the Kandar Yatra. He questioned the social status of the yatra, describing it as associated with showing and superstition.
BJP leader gave a befitting reply
BJP MLA Dayashankar Singh from Ballia clearly said that Shiva ji is the god of all and in this devotion there is no meaning of someone’s caste, education or social status. He said that people walk for 120 kilometers and offer water, which reflects the culmination of faith.
Increased confrontation between politics and faith
This entire episode has once again revealed the distance between religion, faith and politics. While people connect the Kandar Yatra with reverence on the one hand, on the other hand political rhetoric is seen repeatedly bringing this faith in the question.