After UP police mandated all eateries, shops, and food carts along the Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, and Shamli to display their owners’ names, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended this directive statewide on Friday.
Adityanath emphasized the importance of displaying proprietors’ names to prevent confusion among Kanwar Yatra pilgrims.
The directive has drawn criticism from opposition parties and some members of the ruling alliance, who argue it unfairly targets Muslim traders.
A spokesperson for the Uttar Pradesh government indicated that a formal order would be issued soon, confirming the chief minister’s directive aimed at ensuring undisturbed pilgrimages. The order will apply to all Kanwar Yatra routes in the state.
Additionally, Adityanath ordered action against those selling and promoting Halal-certified products. In November 2023, the state government cracked down on mandatory Halal certification for various products, including vegetarian FMCG items and cosmetics.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized the move on X, calling it a direct attack on the Indian Constitution, which prohibits discrimination based on caste, religion, or language.
Similarly, RLD State President and MLC Ramashish Rai deemed the directive unconstitutional and demanded its retraction. The RLD is an ally of the BJP.
Following an outcry, UP police clarified on Thursday that displaying owners’ names was voluntary and not compulsory. The directive was initially issued by Muzaffarnagar police, covering about 240 km of the Kanwar Yatra route in the district. Muzaffarnagar SSP Abhishek Singh explained that the appeal aimed to prevent confrontations between shopkeepers and pilgrims, who often avoid non-vegetarian joints.
Kanwariyas, devotees of Lord Shiva, undertake an annual pilgrimage to collect Ganga water and offer it at various shrines. This year’s yatra starts on July 22 and ends on August 2.
The idea was first endorsed by UP minister and Muzaffarnagar MLA Kapil Dev Agarwal, who noted instances of non-vegetarian food being sold at restaurants named after Hindu deities. He clarified that the directive was not against meat vendors but aimed to prevent misleading names.
BSP supremo Mayawati and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav also criticized the move, citing potential communal discord. CPI(ML) State Secretary Sudhakar Yadav called the directive divisive and unconstitutional, demanding its immediate withdrawal. He accused the BJP government of using the Kanwar Yatra for polarizing politics.
State BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi defended the directive, citing complaints from social organizations about vendors using fake names. He emphasized that Kanwariyas prefer clean, vegetarian outlets and referenced existing laws requiring the display of licenses and proprietors’ names. Tripathi dismissed the controversy as politically motivated.