Mahadangal: BJP Accused of Targeting Muslims as QR Code Campaign Sparks Uproar | ABP NEWS

As the holy month of Sawan begins, the Kanwar Yatra is underway across northern India. While the spiritual journey is meant to be a peaceful pilgrimage, this year it has once again become entangled in political and communal controversies. A campaign that initially focused on placing nameplates on shops has evolved into mandatory QR code tagging, linked to the “Safety Connect” app. This drive has triggered outrage in various quarters. In Muzaffarnagar, an inspection led by Swami Yashvir reportedly resulted in the mistreatment of a dhaba employee, sparking widespread criticism. Opposition leaders, including Akhilesh Yadav, allege that the BJP is deliberately stoking communal tensions. Yadav argued that had the government built proper pilgrimage corridors in nine years, such chaos and political flare-ups could have been avoided. Debates erupted during a televised discussion, where BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia defended the campaign as a necessary public safety and transparency measure. He claimed the opposition was uncomfortable with the discipline being enforced. Bhatia accused Akhilesh Yadav of having sympathized with riot accused in the past and of showing bias against Hindus. On the other hand, AIMIM leader Waris Pathan criticized the campaign, alleging it is being used to target Muslims by forcing them to display their religious identity. He questioned why names and identities are being scrutinized only during Hindu festivals. The discussion also touched on identity masking, halal-jhatka meat distinctions, and historical communal tensions. As Kanwar Yatra continues, it has become not just a religious event, but a flashpoint in India’s ongoing political and communal discourse.