Kanwar Yatra: Saharanpur, Shamli Follow Muzaffarnagar Police's Directive
Soon after Muzaffarnagar Police’s directive, Saharanpur Police has urged all eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their shop owners. While talking to reporters on Thursday, Saharanpur DIG Ajay Sahni conveyed that the order has been extended to Shamli and Saharanpur districts in western Uttar Pradesh.
Hotels and dhabas along the yatra route in his district were also ordered to display the names of their owners and employees as well as their rate lists, Sahni said.
Also Read | Video: Massive Backlash Over UP Police’s New Advisory For Eateries Along Kanwar Yatra Route
This order was taking into consideration of the previous disputes with kanwariyas regarding eateries’ rate lists, the serving of non-vegetarian food and owners or proprietors giving the names for their hotels from religions other than their own.
“In past, Kanwariyas had raised objection over restaurant using names of Hindu idols run by people from other community,” Ajay Sahni told the media.
This year, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath banned the sale and purchase of meat in the open along the pilgrimage routes in the state as a mark of ‘respect’ for devotees. He has also asked officials to set up helpdesks and ensure distribution of chilled water and shikanji along the yatra routes. Besides, Adityanath instructed them to arrange pushp varsha – the shower of flower petals – on devotees.
Many politicians came opposing Muzaffarnagar police’s decision. Calling it as “state-sponsored bigotry,” Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said on Thursday: “The desire behind what they are proposing to do along the kanwar yatra [route] is to normalise the economic boycott of Muslims,” The Wire quotes as he is saying.
The Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, MC MP Mahua Moitra, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi, and TMC MP Saket Gokhale has also criticised the directive.
As per the Wire report, Uttar Pradesh government is also been under scrutiny for other aspect of the Kanwar yatra as it allegedly authorised the felling of over 33,000 mature trees in forest divisions in three districts, including Muzaffarnagar, to have a new road to facilitate the pilgrimage.
The Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage of Shiva devotees, sees millions of Kanwariyas traveling from various locations to sacred sites like Haridwar, Gaumukh, Gangotri, and Ajgaibinath to fetch holy water from the Ganges River. This year’s Yatra will begin on July 22, drawing significant attention and participation.
