The political climate surrounding the Kanwar Yatra heated up on Friday after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath mandated that all eateries along the Yatra route in the state must display the owners’ names. This directive follows a similar order issued by the Muzaffarnagar Police on July 18.
Muzaffarnagar Police Directive
On Wednesday, Muzaffarnagar Police issued an order requiring eateries, including hotels, dhabas, and carts, along the Kanwar Yatra route to prominently display their owners’ names. This order aimed to avoid confusion and ensure transparency among the public, as stated by the Senior Superintendent of Police.
Opposition’s Reaction
The directive has faced substantial backlash from the Opposition, with leaders drawing stark comparisons to “Nazi Germany.” Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government for creating communal disharmony. Congress’ Priyanka Gandhi also condemned the order, calling it a “crime against the Constitution” and demanded its immediate withdrawal along with strict action against the responsible officials.
Additional Criticism
Leaders from the Janata Dal (United), part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, also voiced their concerns. KC Tyagi pointed out that a similar Kanwar Yatra in Bihar does not have such an order, suggesting that the UP directive contradicts Prime Minister Modi’s spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi warned against creating communal confusion, stating that such confusion is detrimental to any country, community, or humanity.
BJP’s Defense
Despite the criticism, the BJP defended the directive. UP Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal emphasized the necessity of the guidelines to maintain the sanctity of the Yatra, citing issues with non-vegetarian eateries during this period. He argued that the transparency created by these measures was essential.
Haridwar’s Similar Directive
In alignment with UP’s directive, Haridwar, governed by the BJP, issued a similar order for shops, restaurants, hotels, dhabas, and street vendors on the Kanwar Yatra route. Haridwar Senior Superintendent of Police Pramendra Dobhal noted that disputes often arose due to the lack of proprietor names on shops. To address this, the Haridwar police would verify all establishments and push for the names of proprietors to be clearly displayed, with QR codes also mentioning the same.
This new directive and the ensuing political reactions highlight the ongoing tensions and varying perspectives on how to manage religious events and communal harmony in India.