Click to play videoLucknow: Ever heard of state government organising a puja to ward off evil spirits? Well Uttar Pradesh certainly thinks that’s the way to deal with ‘evil’ problems.
The UP government is organising a puja on a birdge in Allahabad to stop people from committing suicide by jumping off it. Apparently, the increase in suicide rates has led government officials to believe that it is a bridge of death.
“A puja would be a good way to get some harmony and try and persuade these young people from committing suicide,” Project Head of the construction, Robert Uthwatt said.
Ever since the 5.5 kilometre-long bridge was built across the Yamuna more than 350 people have committed suicide by jumping off it. Government officials believe such rituals will arrest the trend.
“We hope after the puja people would think twice before ending their lives. It’s very sad to hear young people committing suicide,” SDM of Allahabad, Rajesh Singh said.
Even officials of the Denmark-based company, which constructed this bridge at a sum of Rs 500 crore, seem to agree with the state government.
“If one remembers this bridge was never officially inaugurated. That would seem as not a good omen for the future of this bridge,” Uthwatt said.
But how did the bridge turn ominous? Some believe it could be because its foundation stone was laid thrice. First by then Congress MP film star Amitabh Bachchan in 1986, then the Janatal Dal's VP Singh in 1989 and finally in 2001 by the BJP's Murli Manohar Joshi.
Whatever may be the reasons behind this bridge turning ominous, will the government be successful in preventing the growing number of suicides by organising a puja? Perhaps rationalists might not agree.
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