Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said businesses in the Kanwar route have been directed to display nameplates to maintain the purity of the faith of Kanwar pilgrims. He added stern action would be taken against those selling Halal products.
The Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s office said, “Nameplate will have to be put on the food shops on the Kanwar routes across Uttar Pradesh. The decision was taken to maintain the purity of the faith of Kanwar pilgrims. Action will also be taken against those selling products with Halal certification,” ANI reported.
The CMO’s order comes amidst backlash over a similar order from Muzaffarnagar police, directing eateries on the Kanwar route to display owners’ names. The opposition called the decision impractical and divisive in nature. Congress Uttar Pradesh chief Ajay Rai said the order should be cancelled immediately. “This is absolutely impractical. They are trying to impair the sense of brotherhood in society, trying to create distance among people. This should be cancelled immediately,” he said.
Meanwhile, State Minister Kapil Dev Agarwal said most of the outlets with names of Hindu deities are run by Muslims and they sell non-vegetarian food. He added those outlets must be identified and prohibited. “This is not a matter about every food cart. Those who carry 'jal' from Haridwar and travel for 250-300km cross this route to reach their destination. We had urged the district administration that all such people who run their dhaba/hotel after the names of Hindu deities are mostly from the Muslim community. Kanwariyas visit their shops where non-vegetarian food is sold. So, the name of the shop is after a Hindu deity, but non-vegetarian is sold there; all such establishments should be prohibited, they should be identified,” the minister said.
Agarwal said they are not against the sale of non-vegetarian food but Kanwariyas would not eat from such outlets. “We have no objection to the sale of non-vegetarian food, Kanwariyas would not purchase it. We have only urged that non-vegetarian food should not be sold by opening shops after the names of Hindu deities; so the administration has acted accordingly. Politicians are giving it a Hindu-Muslim angle. But it is not a Hindu-Muslim matter, it is a matter of social harmony. People can sit and eat wherever they want, but they should have the knowledge of where they are sitting,” Agarwal added.
Earlier, former BJP minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi slammed the decision of Muzzafarnagar police and said, “The hasty orders of some over-zealous officials may give rise to the disease of untouchability... Faith must be respected, but untouchability must not be patronised."
