TMC MP Questions Logic Of Asking Shop Owners To Display Their Names During Kanwar Yatra (Photo @Anoopnautiyal1)

Muzaffarnagar police have sparked fresh controversy, asking eateries along the route of the Kanwar Yatra to display the names of proprietors. Protests erupted on social media after the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Muzaffarnagar, Abhishek Singh issued the order.

“In the area under our jurisdiction, which is around 240 km, all eateries – hotels, dhabas, thelas (roadside carts) – have been instructed to display the names of their proprietors or those running the shop,” said the SSP, adding that the move was to ensure that there is no confusion among the kanwarias and no allegations are raised in the future, leading to a law and order situation. He also claimed that everyone is following the order of their own free will.

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The move is part of the authority’s measures to enhance security ahead of the Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage organised in the Hindu calendar month of Shravana (Saavan). The pilgrimage involves a marathon journey with lakhs of Lord Shiva devotees walking in saffron carrying pots of Ganga and other holy river waters to Shiva shrines. The practice reflects a strong bond between devotees and Lord Shiva.

During the pilgrimage, the devotees should not touch the ground, which is completed in about a fortnight. Pilgrims are required to carry the Kanwar barefoot and abstain from intoxicants, meat, alcohol, and non-vegetarian food. The large number of turnout has historically caused challenges to maintaining law and order. There have been vandalism, violence, traffic chaos, and even murder due to inadequate administrative planning for the Yatra.

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In the previous year, Swami Yashvir Maharaj, a priest from a prominent ashram in Muzaffarnagar’s Baghra, had asked Muslim traders to display their names on their shops and hotels. With the police’s order, it is reported that several Muslim shoppers changed their eateries’ names acknowledging the police measure, according to a report by Indian Express.

However, dubbing the police order asking shop sellers to display their names “shocking and discriminatory against Muslims,” Trinamool Congress MP Shaket Ghokale said that he has filed a case with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the Muzaffarnagar Police.

The TMC leader questioned the logic of the Srperndent of police that the measure is “to avoid confusion as Yatris have dietary preference,” noting that a simple notification asking vendors to state “whether they serve only vegetarian food or both veg & non-veg would have sufficed.”

“What does the name of a shopkeeper or food vendor have to do with “confusion on dietary preferences? This is a clearly mischievous and unlawful order promoting discrimination & targeting on the basis of religious identity,” the TMC Rajya Sabha MP wrote on his X handle, adding that it is even more shameless that the SSP hasn’t withdrawn the order despite protests on social media.

“I’ve asked the @India_NHRC to immediately direct SSP @muzafarnagarpol to withdraw this order as well as directions to Chief Sec & Home Sec, UP, to initiate disciplinary proceedings against SSP, Muzaffarnagar. This is UNACCEPTABLE and will be challenged,” Saket Gahokle wrote.

Important

I’ve filed a case with NHRC against Muzaffarnagar Police for the shocking order discriminating against Muslims by asking food sellers on the Kanwar Yatra route to “display their names & names of staff members”.

The logic given by SSP Muzaffarnagar is not only foolish… pic.twitter.com/QXqh4RGAcH

— Saket Gokhale MP (@SaketGokhale) July 18, 2024