New Delhi: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday termed the Uttar Pradesh government's directive to food shops on the Kanwar routes to display the details of their owners as an attack against the Constitution. She said that the directive goes against the constitutional dictate that no citizen shall be discriminated against based on caste, religion, language or place of birth.
"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," Priyanka Gandhi said in a post on X.
"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 This order should be withdrawn immediately and strict action should be taken against the officials who issued it," she added.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's office said that in a move aimed at maintaining the sanctity of the Kanwar Yatra, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has mandated that all food and beverage shops along the Kanwar routes in Uttar Pradesh must display nameplates with the name and identity of the owner or operator. This decision is part of a broader initiative to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage, which begins on July 22, the CMO said.
The directive, which also includes action against shops selling halal-certified products, has received mixed reactions and has sparked political debate.
On Friday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Mohsin Raza supported the move, stating, "Kanwar Yatra takes place on a large scale in UP. CM Yogi Adityanath has always been attentive towards the security of the public."
"The facilities and management of Kanwar Yatra have always been improved over the last 7 years. This is the 8th year... The government is providing facilities and security. So no one has to hide their name. It also gives a message of harmony... The opposition is trying to oppose the Kanwar Yatra and not this advisory," Raza further added.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) National General Secretary Trilok Tyagi criticized the directive, saying, "Gandhiji, Chaudhary Charan Singh, and other personalities have spoken about keeping religion and caste behind. Now, politicians are bringing religion and caste forward in politics. I think the action is not correct. Why make someone write their name on street carts? They have the right to work... This tradition is absolutely wrong. It is up to the customer; they can make purchases from wherever they want...".
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha called the directive a "mindless exercise," questioning, "Will they ask the fruits whether they have been grown by a Hindu or Muslim? Will they ask the vegetables who have grown them? This should not be done."
Janata Dal-United (JDU) leader KC Tyagi noted, "A Kanwar Yatra bigger than this (in UP) takes place in Bihar. No such order is in effect there. These prohibitions that have been imposed are in violation of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas' that the PM speaks of. The order is not in effect in Bihar, Rajasthan, or Jharkhand. It would be good if it is reviewed."
Seers in Ayodhya have also supported the order. Jagatguru Ram Dineshacharya Ji Maharaj stated, "This decision by Chief Minister Adityanath will strengthen Sanatan culture." Similarly, Divakaracharya Ji Maharaj of Leela Bihari Temple called it a "beautiful initiative."
The chief priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Acharya Satendra Das, supported the order, citing concerns about Muslim-run shops under Hindu names. "The decision by Yogi Ji to display whether the owner is Hindu or Muslim is justified," Acharya Das affirmed.
—ANI
