Kanwar Yatra Row: In Fresh Advisory, Muzaffarnagar Police Asks Eatery Owners To 'Display Names Voluntarily'

The UP police had earlier ordered all the owners of the eateries along the Kanwar route to display their names, but the move received backlash as it was seen as a way of targeting Muslim traders.

A day after row erupted over displaying owners' names for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route, Muzaffarnagar Police on Thursday issued a fresh advisory, making it "voluntary" to display names.

In a post on X, the police said its intention was not to create any sort of religion-based discrimination but only to ensure the devotees passing through the district do no face any problem and to prevent any untoward situation.

The Muzaffarnagar police had earlier ordered all the eateries to display their names, but the move received backlash as it was seen as a way of targeting Muslim traders.

Congress spokesperson had called the order a state-sponsored bigotry, while Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav asked the court to take suo motu congnizance of the matter, to know the "intention of the government".

"Such orders are social crimes. The government wants to spoil the peaceful atmosphere," he said.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) Chief Owaisi compared the move to Apartheid and Juden boycott, the boycott of Jewish businesses in Hitler's Germany.

"As per the order of the Uttar Pradesh Police, now every food shop or cart owner will have to put his name on the board so that no Kanwariya buys anything from a Muslim shop by mistake," Owaisi tweeted.

New Advisory Issued, Owners Asked To Display Names 'Voluntarily'

Following the controversy, the Muzaffarnagar Police posted an advisory today that stressed the move was just to avoid any confusion.

"In the past, there have been instances where confusion arose among Kanwariyas due to the names of shops selling various food items along the Kanwar route, leading to law and order situations," the advisory said. 

"To prevent such incidents and respect the faith of the devotees, hotel owners, dhabas, and food vendors along the Kanwar route are requested to voluntarily display the names of the owners and workers," it added.

The advisory further stressed that the order is "not intended to create any religious discrimination but to ensure the convenience of devotees passing through Muzaffarnagar district".

The police also requested to avoid accusations, and maintain law and order.

"This practice has been in place in the past as well," it said.

The Vishva Hindu Parishad claimed on July 9 that Muslims are selling puja items at several Hindu pilgrimage sites by concealing their identity. The VHP urged all state governments to take necessary steps to prevent such people from running shops, to ensure the faith of Hindus is not hurt, PTI reported.