All India Imam Association President Maulana Sajid Rashidi on Thursday, 6 August said that Kanwariyas involved in violence, alcohol consumption, and public disorder cannot be considered devotees of Lord Shiva, calling such individuals 'terrorists' rather than Shiv Bhakts. His remarks came as multiple videos allegedly showing Kanwariyas engaging in unruly behaviour circulated widely on social media.

What Rashidi Said

Rashidi was unequivocal in his condemnation of the reported behaviour. 'You call those who sit on roads consuming alcohol and intoxicants devotees of Lord Shiva? You call those who assault police personnel in uniform Shiv Bhakts? You call those who smash the windows of a school van and injure children Shiv Bhakts? You even call those who stop an ambulance carrying a patient and force people to chant ‘Jai Shri Ram’ Shiv Bhakts? They are not Shiv Bhakts; they are terrorists,' he said.

He was careful to clarify that his remarks were not a blanket indictment of all Kanwariyas. 'I am not speaking about all Kanwariyas. There are many good people among them,' he said, while claiming that roughly 70–75 per cent of those involved in such incidents were engaged in intoxication and violence.

The Viral Videos Behind the Remarks

The statement was prompted by a wave of social media videos allegedly showing Kanwariyas consuming alcohol, dancing on public roads, and disrupting traffic. Rashidi said he personally viewed one video he described as 'quite shocking', in which a Kanwariya was reportedly seen offering a cigarette to a statue of Lord Ram. 'Can such people be called Kanwariyas? They are drug addicts, and you can call them whatever you want,' he said. He noted that others in the video attempted to intervene.

Message to CM Yogi Adityanath

Rashidi also addressed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directly, drawing a parallel to the ongoing debate over public religious activities. 'I want to tell CM Yogi that when people ask whether Namaz should be offered on roads, the answer is often ‘no’. Then what about those who occupy roads, dance on them, and create disruptions?' he said. The remarks appear to reference a long-running political debate in Uttar Pradesh over the use of public spaces for religious observance.

Rashidi on Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh

Separately, Rashidi also commented on the political situation in Bangladesh and the future of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. 'The world is a circle; whatever you do comes back to you. What happened in Bangladesh is the result of what was done there,' he said, without elaborating on specific events. He added that Hasina should be handed over to Bangladesh and that 'the people of Bangladesh should decide what should happen to her.'

Broader Context

The Kanwar Yatra, one of the largest annual Hindu pilgrimages, sees millions of devotees travel to collect holy water from the Ganga in Haridwar and other sites. Incidents of disruption and violence during the yatra have drawn periodic scrutiny in past years. This is not the first time religious leaders across communities have publicly distinguished between sincere pilgrims and those alleged to misuse the pilgrimage's cover. Rashidi's remarks, coming from the head of a prominent Muslim clerical body, are notable for their cross-community framing and are likely to draw both support and controversy.