Eateries along Kanwar Yatra route must display owner’s name

Lucknow, NT Bureau: Police in Muzaffarnagar have asked eateries, including roadside carts, along the route of the Kanwar Yatra to display names of owners or proprietors to “avoid any confusion” among the yatris.

Talking to reporters on Tuesday, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzzaffarnagar, Abhishek Singh said, “Preparations have begun for the kanwar yatra. In the area under our jurisdiction, which is around 240 km, all eateries – hotels, dhabas, thelas (roadside carts) – have been instructed to display the names of their proprietors or those running the shop. This is being done to ensure that there’s no confusion among the kanwarias and no allegations are raised in the future, leading to a law and order situation. Everyone is following this of their own free will.”

Noted Muslim leader and former chairman of Delhi Minority Commission, Zafarul Islam Khan, posted the video statement issued by Singh on Wednesday through his X account. The video shows vendors putting up billboards on their stalls and shops carrying their names.

According to reports, the decision was taken by the administration after Hindutva priest Swami Yashvir Maharaj had demanded that Muslim traders display their names on their shops, vendors and hotels.

The priest at an ashram in Muzaffarnagar’s Baghra had last year demanded action against Muslim hotels and dhabas alleging that they were running their businesses under the names of Hindu deities.

'Unconstitutional and divisive'

Meanwhile, the move has been denounced by opposition leaders, activists and journalists describing it as “unconstitutional” and “divisive”.

Congress leader Pawan Khera urged “all rightthinking people and the media” to rise against “this state-sponsored bigotry”. In a social media post, Khera said: “We cannot allow the BJP to push the country back into the dark ages.”

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra called it “blantantly illegal”. She said “What next? Muslims to wear equivalent of Star of David on their sleeve to mark themselves? The next time kanwars or their families need a doctor or blood find another kanwar to treat them. @Uppolice @CMOfficeUP this is blatantly illegal & anti-constitutional”.