UP CM Yogi Adityanath Mandates Display of Eatery Owners’ Names Along Kanwar Yatra Route Sparking Controversy
News Mania Desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/19th July 2024
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued a new directive on July 19 requiring all food establishments along the Kanwar Yatra route to prominently display the names of their owners. This measure is intended to preserve the religious sanctity of the pilgrimage but has sparked significant backlash from both opposition leaders and some members of the ruling NDA. Critics argue that the decision could heighten religious tensions and contribute to an atmosphere of discrimination.
The directive has drawn condemnation from various quarters. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) National President Mayawati labeled the order as unconstitutional, claiming that it aims to economically target individuals of a specific religion for electoral gains. In a statement on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), she criticized the advisory as an attempt to marginalize certain communities and condemned it as a divisive move.
Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, a prominent BJP leader, also voiced concerns about the potential implications of the directive. In a social media post on X, he expressed apprehension that such hasty measures might foster untouchability and discrimination, despite the intention to respect religious faith. Naqvi emphasized that respect for faith should not lead to practices that promote caste-based discrimination, reaffirming that all individuals, regardless of caste, are equal in the eyes of God. He also shared a photo of himself participating in the Kanwar Yatra, indicating his personal commitment to the pilgrimage and his belief in respecting its sanctity without endorsing discriminatory practices.
The controversy intensified following the initial backlash. On Thursday, the administration in Muzaffarnagar responded to criticism by revising its stance, making the display of owners’ names at eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route optional. Despite this adjustment, Chief Minister Adityanath reinforced the directive on Friday, extending it statewide to include all eateries and food carts along the pilgrimage route.
The new policy mandates that all food vendors and eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route prominently display the names of their owners, a move intended to ensure transparency and maintain religious decorum. However, this decision has been met with skepticism and resistance from various stakeholders who worry that it might exacerbate existing communal tensions.
The directive’s impact on local communities and businesses remains to be seen, as the policy’s implementation will likely be scrutinized and debated in the coming weeks. The tension surrounding the order reflects broader concerns about how religious practices and political actions intersect, particularly in a diverse and multi-religious society like India.
As the Kanwar Yatra approaches, the focus will be on how this new directive will affect the dynamics between pilgrims and local vendors, and whether it will contribute to the intended goal of preserving the pilgrimage’s sanctity or instead fuel further controversy and division.
