The Yogi Adityanath government spent over Rs.14 lakh for hiring a chopper which was used by senior police officials of Uttar Pradesh to shower rose petals on Kanwariyas.
According to a Economic Times report, the chopper was hired for the purpose of “keeping an alert vision and effective surveillance” in Meerut from August 7 to August 9.
The documents accessed by ET reveal that the chopper was hired from Air Charter Services Pvt Ltd at Rs 14.31 lakh.
Recently, a video of Additional Director General (Meerut Zone) Prashant Kumar showering flower petals from a chopper went viral on the Internet.
Justifying the act of senior police officials, UP Additional Director General (Law and Order) Anand Kumar told ET, “Showering petals on anybody is a symbol of welcome and it has been part of Indian tradition and customs. It is a sign that government and administration is welcoming the kanwar yatris – it is a symbolic gesture. It does not mean police are succumbing to religious propensities of the person walking on the road.”