Rajasthan's major religious places to stay shut till July 31

JAIPUR: All religious places in Rajasthan except the small ones in rural areas, which attract 50 devotees a day or below, will remain shut till July 31. The decision was taken by chief minister Ashok Gehlot at a Covid-19 review meeting held at his residence on Sunday. It was taken after considering suggestions made by committees to district authorities which did not favour opening religious places, the official statement said.
“The religious places in rural areas, which have a footfall of up to 50 persons in a day, will be allowed to open on the condition that they follow all Covid protocols and standard operating procedures put in place by the state and central governments,” said the statement. Religious places with footfall higher than 50 will remain shut in rural areas.
Reacting to the decision, mahant Kailash Sharma, chief priest of Moti Doongri Temple said, “I welcome the decision taken by CM Ashok Gehlot. I am sure they must have not found it appropriate to open the religious site.”
Most religious places against reopening
It was not easy for the government to take a call on the status of religious sites shut since the lockdown. The government had formed committees in every district to look into the issue of opening religious places and provide safety to each and every devotee. Sources said none of the religious places with higher footfalls had suggested any convincing opening formula.
While most of them said "no" to opening till the situation gets normal, some wanted religious places to be open like other institutions during Unlock 1.0.
At a meeting with Ajmer district collector Vishwa Mohan on July 25, Syed Moin Chishti, president of Anjuman Moinia Fakhria Chistia (a body of khadims), had said that around 20,000 families in Ajmer of all religions were dependent on devotees. He had said that any delay would create a hunger-like situation for those who are dependent on the shrine.
Meanwhile, the government has dropped the mandatory provision of 14-day home quarantine for those returning from other states. It has also extended the Jagrukta Abhiyan till July 7 after the door-to-door health survey of residents proved to be a success. The 10-day campaign will get over on June 30.