Kanwar Yatra Eateries Row: UP Government Justifies Order, Says To Avoid Flare Ups
The Uttar Pradesh government has defended its order in the Supreme Court on Friday. The government has stated that the directive to name owners during the Kanwar Yatra was issued to ensure that the religious sentiments of Kanwariyas are not inadvertently hurt and to maintain peace and tranquility in the region.
The state government further added that the directive was issued in response to complaints received from Kanwariyas regarding confusion caused by the name of the shops and eateries.
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“The idea behind the directive is transparency and informed the choice of the consumer/Kanwaria regarding the food they eat during the period of the Yatra, keeping in mind their religious sentiments so that they don’t, even accidentally, fall foul of their beliefs,” UP government said in its affidavit.
The Kanwar Yatra is an annual pilgrimage where devotees of Lord Shiva, known as Kanwariyas, travel to fetch holy water from the Ganga river.
The Uttar Pradesh government claimed that the directive was introduced in response to specific complaints from Kanwariyas. The devotees raised concerns regarding the food which are being served along the route, which led to comprehension regarding its preparation in line with religious practices.
The Kanwar Yatra began on July 22, on the occasion of the first Monday of ‘Sawan’.
The court issued a notice to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Delhi governments seeking their response by July 26.
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“We deem it appropriate to pass interim order prohibiting the enforcement of the impugned directives. In other words, food sellers may be required to display the kind of food that they are serving to the kanwariyas. But they must not be forced to display the name/identity of the owners and the employees,” the court ordered.
