Prayagraj: On the demand of the Akhara Parishad not to allot food shops to non-Sanatanis to ensure the sanctity and purity of the Maha Kumbh Mela, the fair administration clarified that the shops in the fair will be allotted only through the tender process.
In the Kumbh and Maha Kumbh Melas held in Prayagraj, shops have always been allotted through tender process in which there is no restriction on allotting shops to any particular category. However, after several videos of adulteration of food items went viral recently, the Akhara Parishad is opposing allotment of food shops to non-Sanatanis.
Kumbh Mela Officer Vijay Kiran Anand told ‘PTI Bhasha’, the shops which are allotted are done through tender process. Shops will be allotted as per the tender process only. This is a big fair where people will come from all over the world… We will allot shops through this process.
At the same time, Mahant Ravindra Puri, President of Akhara Parishad, after the meeting in the auditorium of Panchayati Akhara Shri Niranjani on Friday, once again said, Our protest is not against any particular class. After the recent video of food being served mixed with spit, urine etc., our demand is that juice shops, food shops, dhabas etc. should not be given to non-Sanatanis.
He said, in this fair, saints and ascetics come from all over the country and non-conservative people can corrupt their religion by mixing dirt in the food items. Therefore, our demand is that catering shops should be allotted only to Sanatanis.
Akhara Parishad President said about the dispute that took place between the saints in the fair office on Thursday, we are the saints of the Akharas and small disputes keep happening in the Akharas. This should not be exaggerated.