Dehradun: In Uttarakhand, strict action is being taken under ‘Operation Kalanemi’ against the imposters who cheat people in the guise of Sanatan Dharma by disguising themselves as sadhus and saints. So far, more than 300 fake babas, including a Bangladeshi citizen, have been arrested in this campaign. This campaign, which started last month on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, is being run to preserve the cultural and religious identity of Uttarakhand.
Scope and results of the campaign
The aim of ‘Operation Kalanemi’ is to catch those who are cheating and playing with religious sentiments by misusing Sanatan culture. According to officials, so far more than 4000 people have been verified, out of which more than 300 have been arrested. This campaign has been particularly effective in those districts where complaints of the activities of outside elements were received.
District-wise action
865 people have been verified and 113 persons have been arrested in Dehradun. Similarly, 2301 people have been verified in Haridwar district and 162 people have been arrested. While the number of arrests in Udham Singh Nagar is 17. Apart from this, this campaign is also going on continuously in other parts of the state.
A Bangladeshi citizen Rukn Rakam alias Shah Alam was arrested in Sahaspur, Dehradun, who was hiding his identity by disguising himself as a saint.
Mythological significance of ‘Kalanemi’
The name ‘Kalanemi’ is inspired by Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Ramayana, Kalanemi was the son of Ravana’s maternal uncle Marich, who disguised himself as a saint and tried to stop Hanuman from bringing Sanjivani booti. Hanuman recognized his reality and killed him. In Mahabharata, Kalanemi was reborn as Kansa, who was killed by Lord Krishna.
CM Dhami’s resolution
While launching the operation, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said, just as Kalanemi had spread confusion by disguising himself as a sadhu, similarly today many people are committing crimes by posing as sadhus and saints. Those involved in such activities, cheating or playing with religious sentiments in Devbhoomi Uttarakhand will not be spared at any cost.
Officials are constantly engaged in verification and action. This campaign will continue till action is completed against all the suspects. Its goal is not only to prevent crime but also to protect the religious and cultural heritage of Uttarakhand.
