Criticism Grows Over Muzaffarnagar’s Eateries Name Display Order for Kanwar Yatra

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th July. As the holy month of Sawan begins on July 22, marking the start of the Kanwar Yatra, Muzaffarnagar police have mandated that all eateries along the route display the names of their owners. This directive, intended to prevent confusion, has been criticized by opposition parties and civil society members as discriminatory.

Criticism from Politicians

Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav has condemned the order as a “social crime,” arguing that it unfairly targets Muslim traders. Yadav urged the courts to take suo motu cognizance of the matter. In a post on X, he questioned the effectiveness of the order, asking, “…And what if the name of the owner is Guddu, Munna, Chhotu or Fatte? What can you find out from these names?” He called for judicial investigation into the government’s intentions.

Police Justification

Muzaffarnagar police chief Abhishek Singh explained that the directive affects approximately 240 km of the Kanwar Yatra route in the district. He stated, “All eateries, including hotels, dhabas, and carts, along the route have been asked to display the names of their proprietors or those working at these shops. This measure aims to prevent any confusion among Kanwariyas and to maintain law and order.”

Opposition Leaders Weigh In

AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the order sharply, likening it to historical segregation practices. In a post on X, Owaisi stated, “As per the order of 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. This was called Apartheid in South Africa and in Hitler’s Germany it was called ‘Judenboycott’.”

The order has sparked a significant debate about its implications on social harmony and the potential for stigmatization of minority communities.