An identity verification drive led by Swami Yashveer Maharaj, a self-anointed pracharak (preacher) of “Sanatan Vedic Hindu Dharma”, ahead of the annual Kanwar Yatra has triggered a major controversy.
As part of the campaign, the preacher's followers have begun inspecting the identity documents of owners and employees at shops, dhabas, and restaurants situated along the Kanwar pilgrimage route.
Tensions flared on Saturday when Swami Yashveer’s team reached Pandit Ji Vaishno Dhaba on the Delhi-Dehradun National Highway-58 and demanded Aadhaar cards from the staff. The situation escalated when the staff reportedly refused. According to eyewitnesses, a scuffle broke out after the owner was identified as belonging to the Muslim community through a digital scan, deepening the controversy.
Kanwar Yatris Being Misled: Yashveer Maharaj
Swami Yashveer and his followers allege that certain individuals are misleading Shiva devotees by running establishments under Hindu religious names while belonging to other faiths. The team claims to be inspecting hundreds of such establishments along the Kanwar route, backed by a volunteer force of around 5,000 followers.
Matters took an even more serious turn when a staff member at the dhaba was allegedly forced to lower his pants for "identity verification." The incident caused widespread outrage until local police intervened and brought the situation under control.
Swami Yashveer Steps Back Amid Backlash
Facing criticism following media coverage and a live debate on ABP News, Swami Yashveer issued a video message urging his followers not to take the law into their own hands. "If someone is running a business under a Hindu name but belongs to another religion, inform the police instead of taking direct action," he said.
Law enforcement officials reached the site promptly, diffusing the tension and assuring both parties of a fair investigation. Additional forces have been deployed along the Kanwar route to ensure peace and prevent communal tensions.
Swami Yashveer has been campaigning for the past few years for nameplates that clearly indicate the religious identity of shop and dhaba owners along the Kanwar route. He claims this is necessary to protect the sanctity of Sanatan Dharma and the faith of Shiva devotees. However, the Supreme Court in 2024 put a stay on orders by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments allowing such nameplates, a decision Swami Yashveer later described as "disappointing."