While there have been at least 70 deaths reported so far at Gorakhpur's BRD Hospital, Janmashthami celebrations seem to be the more important occasion for Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.
Adityanath has directed preparations for a ¡°grand Krishna Janmashtami celebration¡±.
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In a communique issued late on Sunday to the director general of police (DGP) Sulkhan Singh, Adityanath said: ¡°Krishna Janmashtami is an important festival and the police should organise it in a traditional and grand way.¡±
This comes just days after more than 60 children died at the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) medical college within a span of a week in the chief minister¡¯s hometown and parliamentary constituency.
PTI
Adityanath said that the festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna should be organised ¡°with Indian traditions¡±.
Following the diktat, DGP Singh has written to all district police chiefs, superintendents of police in the Railways and commandants of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) to adhere to the instructions.
A state Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) statement said such celebrations that had been done away with earlier, were being revived.
Political leaders have also slammed the state government for the decision but refused to come on record, fearing backlash from ¡°Hindu forces¡±.