Yogi orders all eateries in UP on Kanwar route to display owners’ names; Oppn intensifies backlash
Despite facing massive backlash from the Opposition over the Muzaffarnagar case, many of whom likened the situation to ‘Nazi Germany’, CM Yogi went ahead and made the directive applicable to the entire state of Uttar Pradesh
Crores of Shiv devotees are likely to take part in the Kanwar Yatra this year.
Politics over Kanwar Yatra intensified on Friday after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath announced that all eateries along its route across the state are mandated to display the owners’ names. Adding fuel to the fire, the mandate follows the Muzaffarnagar Police’s July 18 directive that issued a similar order.
Despite facing massive backlash from the Opposition over the Muzaffarnagar case, many of whom likened the situation to “Nazi Germany”, CM Yogi went ahead and made the directive applicable to the entire state of Uttar Pradesh.
What did the Muzaffarnagar order say?
The Muzaffarnagar Police on Wednesday issued an order mandating eateries along the route of Kanwar Yatra to prominently display their owners’ names outside the establishments to avoid confusion and ensure transparency among people.
The advisory was extended to hotels, dhabas and carts and was issued by the Senior Superintendent of Police.
What is the Opposition saying?
Up until yesterday, a couple of leaders from the Opposition including Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi accused the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government of creating communal disharmony.
Today, other leaders like Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi and even BJP’s allies joined the chorus.
In a post on X, Gandhi said, “Creating division in society on the basis of caste and religion is a crime against the Constitution. This order should be withdrawn immediately and strict action should be taken against the officials who issued it.”
Janata Dal (United), part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, leader KC Tyagi said, “A Kanwar Yatra bigger than UP takes place in Bihar. No such order is in effect there. These prohibitions imposed by the police in UP are in violation of Prime Minister Modi’s spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. It will be good if the order is reviewed or taken back.”
Meanwhile, BJP’s own leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, “As far as Kanwar Yatra is concerned, no one should try to create any communal confusion on issues like this. These communal confusions are neither good for any country, community or humanity.”
BJP defends order
On the other, the saffron party refuses to back down from the Opposition’s pressure and has defended CM Yogi’s directive.
UP Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal said that the sanctity of the yatra gets affected due to the existence of non-vegetarian eateries during this time and hence the guidelines are necessary to create transparency.
Haridwar following UP’s footsteps?
Haridwar, which is also governed by the BJP, has issued a similar order as Kanwar Yatris collect Ganga water from the hilly state.
Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobhal said, “During the kanwar yatra, disputes often arise due to shops not mentioning the name of the proprietor. Many times, the yatris object to this. To address this, all shops, restaurants, hotels, dhabas and street vendors on the route will be verified by the Haridwar police. We are also pushing for the names of proprietors to be clearly displayed. The QR codes will also mention the same.”
Source : FP
