UP top cop showers rose petals on Kanwariyas from helicopter – WATCH

A video of ADGP (Meerut Zone) Prashant Kumar showering rose petals on Kanwariyas from the helicopter has gone viral.

Image/Video Credit: ANI

NEW DELHI: Two days after a group of 'Kanwariyas' resorted to violence in West Delhi's Moti Nagar area after one of them was hit by a car, a video of a top ranking Uttar Pradesh Police official showering rose petals on the Kanwariyas has now come to fore. 

According to reports, Additional Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police (Meerut Zone) Prashant Kumar was caught on camera showering rose petals on the Kanwariyas from a helicopter on Wednesday.

The video of the UP top cop showering rose petals on the Kanwariyas is being widely shared on the social media.

#WATCH Additional Director General of Uttar Pradesh Police (Meerut Zone) Prashant Kumar showered rose petals on Kanwariyas from a helicopter yesterday pic.twitter.com/SvHH64DGxr — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 9, 2018

Along with Prashant Kumar, Meerut Commissioner Anita Meshram and other senior officials too showered rose petals on Kanwariyas from the helicopter.

Along with ADGP(Meerut Zone) Prashant Kumar, Meerut Commissioner Anita Meshram and other senior officials also showered rose petals on Kanwariyas from a helicopter yesterday pic.twitter.com/tI0cFMYQPk

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 9, 2018

ADG Prashant Kumar also reportedly directed Baghpat District Magistrate Rishirendra Kumar to supervise arrangements for the three-day Kanwar fair in Pura Mahadev Temple in Baghpat where lakhs of devotees are expected to offer holy Ganga water to the deity. 

Interestingly, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier conducted an aerial survey of the Kanwar Yatra route during the first half of the Shrawan month that began on July 28. 

The saint-politician also reportedly showered flower petals from his chopper on the Kanwarias, who responded by prostrating on the highway as the chopper passed through them.

ADG Kumar later issued a clarification saying, ''No religious angle should be given to this, flowers are used to welcome people. Administration respects all religions and actively takes part, even in Gurupurab, Eid, Bakrid or Jain festivals.'' 

No religious angle should be given to this, flowers are used to welcome people. Administration respects all religions and actively takes part, even in Gurupurab,Eid, Bakrid or Jain festivals: Prashant Kumar,ADG(Meerut Zone) on showering rose petals on Kanwariyas from a helicopter pic.twitter.com/BZKg0ri8Oz — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 9, 2018

In view of the Kanwar Yatra, several routes have been diverted and traffic restrictions imposed to ensure smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. Schools and colleges in several districts and parts of Delhi-NCR too have been closed in the view of the Kanwar Yatra.