Kanwar Yatra Row: NDA Ally Chirag Paswan Joins Chorus Against UP Advisory On Display Of Names At Eateries

The Yogi government has now mandated every food shop or eatery along the Kanwar route to display the names of their owners.

The Yogi government has now mandated every food shop or eatery along the Kanwar route to display the names of their owners.

Source : PTI

Kanwar Yatra row: Amidst the simmering row over the display of owners' names outside their respective food shops, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday mandated that all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route in the western state have to display the names of their owners. This came after the Muzaffarnagar Police on Thursday issued a fresh advisory making it voluntary to display names, after receiving backlash.

After the UP CM made it mandatory to display the names, a massive political outrage was trigerred with leaders from not just the opposition but the NDA as well, claiming that the order will create a divide.

According to the statement from UP CM's office, a 'nameplate' will have to be put on the food shops on the Kanwar routes across UP. 

"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," it said.

Criticising the move, Union Minister and LJP leader Chirag Paswan said that he does not support the decision.

"Whenever there is any divide in name of caste or religion, I absolutely don't support it," he told PTI.

'Destroying Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb'

Congress MP from Amethi Kishori Lal Sharma said that an advisory like this would "destory the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb". He also said that this should not happen in Hindustan.

#WATCH Delhi: On the UP Police asking roadside eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar to display the names of owners, Congress MP Kishori Lal Sharma says, "...This is about destroying the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb. This should not happen in Hindustan. pic.twitter.com/wh6JykEGTK

— ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2024

UP Congress president Ajay Rai called the decision "impractical" and said: "They are trying to impair the sense of brotherhood in society, trying to create distance among people. This should be cancelled immediately..."

#WATCH | Lucknow: On food shops on the Kanwar routes across Uttar Pradesh asked to put up 'nameplates', state Congress chief Ajay Rai says, "This is absolutely impractical. They are trying to impair the sense of brotherhood in society, trying to create distance among people. This… pic.twitter.com/GAIs7P1Ce0

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2024

'Attack On Our Constitution': Priyanka Gandhi

Slamming the decision taken by the UP government, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi called the move an "attack on our Constitution".

In a post in Hindi on X, she said: "Our Constitution guarantees every citizen that he will not be discriminated against on the basis of caste, religion, language or any other basis.The divisive order to put up name boards of the owners of carts, kiosks and shops in Uttar Pradesh is an attack on our Constitution, our democracy and our shared heritage."

The Congress general secretary added: "Creating division in society on the basis of caste and religion is a crime against the Constitution. This order should be withdrawn immediately and strict action should be taken against the officials who issued it."

हमारा संविधान हर नागरिक को गारंटी देता है कि उसके साथ जाति, धर्म, भाषा या किसी अन्य आधार पर भेदभाव नहीं होगा।

उत्तर प्रदेश में ठेलों, खोमचों और दुकानों पर उनके मालिकों के नाम का बोर्ड लगाने का विभाजनकारी आदेश हमारे संविधान, हमारे लोकतंत्र और हमारी साझी विरासत पर हमला है।

समाज…

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 19, 2024

'Muslims Have No Problem, Some People Are Doing Politics'

Meanwhile, BJP National General Secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam welcomed the move and said that it was just meant to maintain the purity and sanctity during the Kanwar yatra.

 "The public living in areas for which the orders have been passed have no problem...The Muslims have no problem with it, they are welcoming the Kanwad yatris. Unfortunately, some people are doing politics on it.," he said.

#WATCH | Delhi: On the UP Police asking roadside eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh to display the names of owners, BJP National General Secretary Dushyant Kumar Gautam says, "The public living in areas for which the orders have been passed have no… pic.twitter.com/i0Tt1JMFVG

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2024

'No Need To Attach Communal Angle To It'

Union Minister and BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi also acknowledged the state government's decision and said that it was taken with respect and consideration for the Kanwar pilgrims.

"There is no need for anyone to attach a communal angle to it. Everyone should respect such decisions, as there is no question of untouchability involved in the matter," he said.

Naqvi further said that he was glad the government clarified all the communal confusion and added: "Confusion had erupted, on the basis of a limited administrative guideline. I am happy that the State Government has clarified all communal confusion. As far as devotion, respect and safety of Kanwar Yatra is concerned, nobody has any objection to it. Nobody should make any attempts to create communal confusion on matters like this. This is good neither for a country nor a religion or humankind..."

#WATCH | On 'nameplates' on food shops on Kanwar route in Uttar Pradesh, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says, "Confusion had erupted, on the basis of a limited administrative guideline. I am happy that the State Government has clarified all communal confusion. As far as devotion,… pic.twitter.com/MHJIH4rDWo

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2024

'Mindless Exercise'

RJD leader Manoj Jha also commented on the Yogi government's decision and called it a mindless exercise.

He further questioned: "Will they ask from the fruits whether they have been grown by a Hindu or Muslim...Will they ask to vegetables, who has grown them...This should not be done.."

#WATCH | On 'nameplates' on food shops on Kanwar route in Uttar Pradesh, RJD leader Manoj Jha says, "This is a mindless exercise. Will they ask from the fruits whether they have been grown by a Hindu or Muslim...Will they ask to vegetables, who has grown them...This should not be… pic.twitter.com/eS6OLjXIQr

— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2024

The Kanwar Yatra is set to begin on July 22, the first day of the month of Shravan.