In preparation for the Kanwar Yatra, the Uttar Pradesh state government and local administrations have intensified security measures to ensure a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage for the Kanvariyas. This year, the Kanwar Yatra is set to commence on July 22 and will conclude on August 2.
In Muzaffarnagar district, the local administration has mandated that all hotels, dhabas, and food carts display the names of their proprietors and operators. This directive aims to prevent any confusion among Kanwariyas and avoid potential confrontations.
Addressing the media, SSP Abhishek Singh explained the administration’s decision. He stated that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route are required to display the names of their proprietors and operators to prevent misunderstandings and avoid incidents.
SSP Singh emphasised that this measure was voluntary and many eateries had already complied.
In accordance with the administration’s orders, many food cart sellers and eateries in the region have begun displaying names on banners or paper boards. Police personnel from stations such as Nai Mandi, Chhapar, Purkaji, Mansoorpur, and Khatauli have been tasked with enforcing the order. In the city area, numerous eateries near Meenakshi Chowk have already put up posters with their names.
The administration’s order follows allegations that some Muslim eatery owners had been using false Hindu names, causing concerns among vegetarian Kanwariyas.
Swami Yashveer Maharaj has previously claimed that many Muslim eatery owners disguised their identity during the Kanwar Yatra, using Hindu names on their posters. This, according to Swami Yashveer, could potentially deceive customers and hurt the sentiments of Shiva devotees.
Swami Yashveer demanded that the administration ensure eatery owners display their real names to prevent such deceptions. He warned of protests and agitations if no action was taken within a week.
He said, “Some people from a particular community operate shops during the Kanwar fair by putting up boards with the names of Hindu deities, due to which there is a possibility of hurting the sentiments of Shiva devotee Kanwariyas. The identity of people from a particular community operating shops by putting up boards with the names of Hindu deities should be made public. The police should run a campaign for this.”
Notably, in Uttar Pradesh, the Food Safety and Standards Act, of 2006 mandates that every restaurant and dhaba operator must display the name of their establishment, their own name, and their license number. Additionally, under the “Jago Grahak Jago” initiative, it is compulsory to prominently display the price list on an information board.
Also, food vendors must prominently display their names and addresses at their establishments. G.C. Kandpal, Deputy Commissioner of the Food Safety and Drug Administration in Uttarakhand, stated that this measure is implemented for the convenience of customers.
However, the administration’s order has sparked a backlash from some quarters.
So-called fact-checker Mohammed Zubair, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and other Islamists have criticised the directive, alleging religious discrimination.
Zubair described the order as “dangerous,” claiming it could lead to discrimination based on religion. Owaisi likened the order to South Africa’s apartheid and Germany’s Judenboycott.
Several social media users have also criticised the order, equating it to Nazism and alleging discrimination.
However, the administration maintains that the directive aims to ensure transparency and avoid any untoward incidents during the Yatra.
The district government has mandated that food vendors display their names prominently, aiming to address several concerning issues related to the Kanwariyas’ religious pilgrimage. This decision follows various incidents that have raised alarm among the Kanwariya community.
One significant concern is that some Muslim-owned food outlets have reportedly used fake Hindu names to attract customers, thereby misleading the Kanwariyas. Additionally, there have been viral videos showing disturbing behaviours, such as vendors spitting, licking, and even urinating on food, which have further fueled distrust and outrage.
This mandate is intended to prevent such actions that could offend the religious sentiments of the Kanwariyas. The organisers of the yatra have identified at least 15 instances in recent times where Muslim-owned establishments adopted Hindu names, such as “Shiv Shakti Dhaba,” to disguise their ownership. The government believes that this transparency will help safeguard the religious sanctity of the Kanwariyas’ pilgrimage.
It is ironic how the stance taken by certain groups regarding religious discrimination. Alleged fact-checker Mohammed Zubair, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and other Islamists have been staunch defenders of halal certification. This certification process is inherently discriminatory as it requires animals to be slaughtered exclusively by Muslims, thereby excluding individuals from other religious backgrounds from these job opportunities. Despite this clear religious bias, these groups argue vehemently in favour of halal certification.
However, when it comes to the preferences of fasting Kanwariyas who might wish to dine at establishments run by Hindu sellers, these same groups raise cries of religious discrimination.
Halal certification dictates that for a meat product to be considered halal, the animal must be slaughtered by a Muslim. This practice leads to the exclusive employment of Muslims in these abattoirs, as it is more cost-effective to run a single halal-compliant operation than to maintain separate facilities for halal and non-halal meat.
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