The Supreme Court of India has issued an interim stay on directives from the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments that mandated eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to prominently display the names of their owners. The court found the directive to be discriminatory and against constitutional norms, arguing that ensuring vegetarian food for devotees could be achieved through other means, such as clearly displaying the food type offered.
The Supreme Court will hear a plea challenging the controversial directives by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners’ names. The petition, filed by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, argues that these orders exacerbate communal tensions and aim to create a socially enforced economic boycott of Muslim shop owners.
The Delhi Police have issued a traffic advisory for the upcoming Kanwar Yatra, warning of anticipated congestion in several areas due to the expected participation of two million devotees. The advisory includes diversions for heavy vehicles and recommendations for motorists to plan their travel in advance.
The Supreme Court will hear petitions challenging an Uttar Pradesh government order requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display owner names. The directive, passed earlier this week, has drawn widespread criticism, including from political allies.
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has defended the Uttar Pradesh government’s order requiring shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names and numbers, arguing that there is no need to hide one’s identity. He emphasized the importance of being proud of one’s name and the focus on purity in work, regardless of religious affiliation.
Ujjain Municipal Corporation in Madhya Pradesh has mandated shop owners to display their names and mobile numbers outside their establishments, citing safety and transparency as the rationale. This directive, similar to a recent order in Uttar Pradesh, has sparked controversy with allegations of targeting Muslim traders.
A new advisory in Uttar Pradesh requiring food shops on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the owner’s name has triggered a controversy. While the BJP claims the rule is a reiteration of a 2006 law, the Opposition accuses the government of promoting untouchability and discriminatory practices. The advisory has raised questions about its legality and the extent to which it infringes upon the rights of shopkeepers.
The Uttar Pradesh police has faced backlash after directing eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display owner names, a move perceived as targeting Muslim traders. This directive, supposedly to avoid ‘confusion’, has been criticized as discriminatory, drawing comparisons to apartheid and the Nazi era. Politicians like Asaduddin Owaisi and Akhilesh Yadav have condemned the order as a social crime aimed at disrupting harmony.
