After UP, Congress-Ruled Himachal Pradesh Asks Eateries To Display Owner's Name, Details (Photo on X @VikramadityaINC)
Himachal Pradesh has joined Uttar Pradesh in directing eateries and restaurant owners to display their names in their shops across the state. Vikramaditya Singh, Minister for Public Works, in a social media post, announced the government’s decision, stating, “In Himachal too, every restaurant and fast food stall will have owner’s ID, so that people do not face any kind of problem.”
The decision comes after Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on September 25 issued a series of directions, including mandatory display of the names and address of operators, proprietors, and managers at eateries. The government’s move came taking note of latest incidents involving food adulteration and urine mixing, among others.
Read Also: Kanwar Yatra Eateries Row: UP Government Justifies Order, Says To Avoid Flare Ups
The Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh’s similar order has raised eyeballs, drawing criticism for imitating the saffron model. However, the minister has clarified that his decision was state-centric and for the well-being of the people. The minister said that the move was not driven by any other state.
“There was unrest in our state in the last few days. Our decisions are not driven by any other state. The display of identity cards will be mandatory for all vendors, be they Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian, or from any other community. There are instructions to us from the High Court to make vending zones and vending policies in the state. Recent unrest was linked to the absence of a strong vending policy,” Indian Express quoted the minister.
Read Also: Kanwar Yatra: Saharanpur, Shamli Follow Muzaffarnagar Police’s Directive
Notably, the decision comes amid the communal flare-up the state has witnessed in recent days, targeting the Muslim community. The tension started when a group of people from the Hindu community started protesting to demolish a Masjid in Shimla, alleging illegal construction, leading to attacks on Muslim-owned shops and businesses and calling for public hostility and an economic boycott.
The decision was taken in a meeting held at Vikramaditya’s office to finalize the state’s street vending policy. Earlier, there was a fight between two shopkeepers belonging to two communities, adding fuel to the tension.
.
