Following the request from Muzaffarnagar Police for all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to showcase their proprietors' names, the Uttar Pradesh government is now expanding this directive throughout the state.
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami mentioned that similar instructions are already in place there.
Opposition parties and certain members of the ruling alliance have criticised the order issued by the Muzaffarnagar police earlier this week, stating that it discriminates against Muslim traders.
A spokesperson for the Uttar Pradesh government stated on Friday that a formal order for all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route in the state is expected to be issued soon.
In Dehradun, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami revealed that the decision was made on July 12 during a meeting to assess the preparations for the Kanwar Yatra.
Similar to Muzaffarnagar, hotels, roadside eateries, and dhabas along the Yatra route in Uttarakhand have been instructed to exhibit their owners' names, addresses, and mobile phone numbers.
The Uttarakhand directive will mainly affect Haridwar, although some 'kanwariyas' also travel to Rishikesh, Neelkanth, and Gangotri as part of the yatra, which begins on July 22.
Dhami stated that the decision's intent was not to single out or cause trouble for anyone. He questioned why anyone would have difficulty in identifying themselves. Dhami explained that there have been instances of criminal activity at Har ki Pauri in Haridwar in the past due to tensions arising from some hotel and dhaba operators concealing their true identities. He added that the decision was made to prevent such situations.
Inspector General of Garhwal K S Nagnygal mentioned that the decision was made to uphold social harmony during the Kanwar yatra.
Trivendra Singh Rawat, a senior BJP leader and former chief minister, supported the decision, stating that it will assist Shiva devotees in selecting where they would like to dine.
Senior Congress leader in the state, Harish Rawat, said the decision taken by the Uttar Pradesh and the Uttarakhand governments was unfortunate and painful. "It will foment animosity between communities and bring disrepute to the country," he said.
In Uttar Pradesh, the Muzaffarnagar police said earlier this week that its advisory to eateries to display their owners' names was aimed at avoiding any "confusion".
"This has been done to ensure that there is no confusion among kanwariyas and no law-and-order situation arises. All are following this voluntarily," district police chief Abhishek Singh told reporters then.
Justifying the move, VK Mishra, in charge of the weights and measures department of Meerut, said Friday that, as per the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, every restaurant and dhaba 'sanchalak' needed to display the firm's name, the owner's name, and the licence number.
The Muzaffarnagar police advisory drew criticism from several quarters.
Union minister and BJP ally Chirag Paswan unequivocally opposed it and said he would "absolutely … never support or encourage" any divide in the name of caste or religion.
The Janata Dal (United), another ally of the BJP, expressed disapproval of the advisory. KC Tyagi, a party leader, stated that the advisory should be withdrawn as it might lead to communal tension, and there should be no discrimination based on religion or caste.
The Congress has accused that the intent of the directive was to normalise the economic boycott of Muslims. Pawan Khera, its spokesperson, described the order as "state-sponsored bigotry".
Asaduddin Owaisi, the President of AIMIM, drew parallels between the Muzaffarnagar police advisory and the Apartheid and Judenboykott, the boycott of Jewish businesses in Hitler's Germany.
The BJP, which holds power at the Centre and in Uttar Pradesh, however, supported the measure, stating that it provides fasting Hindus with an option to eat at a purely vegetarian restaurant where the likelihood of being served 'satvik' food is higher.
However, senior BJP leader and former Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi expressed apprehension that it might spread the "disease of untouchability".
Akhilesh Yadav, the president of the Samajwadi Party, and Mayawati, the president of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), both criticised the Muzaffarnagar police advisory. Yadav referred to it as a "social crime" and urged the courts to take suo motu cognisance of the issue.
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