NEW DELHI: The UP police order directing eateries on Kanwar Yatra route to display names of owners and workers has divided the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), with several key allies of the BJP opposing the move and calling it “discriminatory”. This even as Haridwar police has taken a cue from their Muzaffarnagar counterparts and have issued similar order for eateries on Kanwar route in the district.
Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), which is an ally of BJP in Bihar and whose support is crucial for the survival of the NDA government at the Centre, said this directive is against Prime Minister’s philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” for Indian society and also the NDA.
“A Kanwar Yatra bigger than UP takes place in Bihar. No such order is in effect there. These prohibitions imposed by police in UP are in violation of Prime Minister Modi’s spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. It will be good if the order is reviewed or taken back,” JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said.
Another Bihar ally of BJP, the Lok Janshakti Party, also opposed the move of UP police. “I will absolutely … never support or encourage” any divide in the name of caste or religion,” Union minister and LJP chief Chirag Paswan said opposing the Muzaffarnagar police advisory.
Paswan said he believes two classes of people – rich and poor – exist in the society and persons of different castes and religions fall in both categories. “We need to bridge the gap between these two classes of people. It is every government’s responsibility to work for the poor, which includes all sections of society such as Dalits, backwards, upper castes and Muslims as well. All are there. We need to work for them,” the LJP chief added.
And its not just allies in Bihar who are opposing the Kanwar advisory, the Rashtriya Lok Dal, which is a key partner of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, has also objected to the police order.
“Gandhiji, Chaudhary Charan Singh and other personalities have spoken about keeping religion and caste behind. Now, politicians are taking forward religion and caste forward in politics. I think the action is not correct. Why do you make someone write their name on street carts? They have the right to work … This tradition is absolutely wrong,” RLD national general secretary Trilok Tyagi said.
“It is up to the customer, they can make purchases from wherever they want … I would like to ask politicians – does consuming alcohol not corrupt you religiously? Does it happen only when you consume meat? So, why is there no prohibition on alcohol? Why do they not speak about alcohol? Because those who do business have a nexus, it is a game of the powerful. These small shops are set up by the poor. So, you are pointing fingers at them. I would demand that ban alcohol too,” he added.
Meanwhile, unfazed by the controversy triggered by the Muzaffarnagar police directive, cops of Haridwar in neighbouring Uttarakhand have issued similar order for eateries on Kanwar route in the district. Haridwar Police has warned of legal action against those who do not comply with the order.
“Regarding the preparations for Kanwar, we have given general instructions to the hotels, dhabas, restaurants and hawkers on the Kanwar route that they will write the name of the owner on their shops and if they fail to do so, we will take legal action against them. Many times, a situation of dispute arises due to this, hence this decision has been taken by us,” Haridwar SSP Padmendra Dobal said.
The BJP had yesterday come down heavily on the opposition parties for objecting to the directive of Muzaffarnagar police. The BJP leaders cited the display of Halal certification for Muslims to justify the move and questioned why a decision that has been taken to protect the religious beliefs of Kanwar devotees was being opposed.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla had slammed those objecting to the police order and said: “Display of Halal certification to ensure Muslims’ religious feelings are not hurt = Peak Secularism. Request to ALL eateries to comply with law & make proper disclosures of name to ensure that Kanwariyas’ Astha is not hurt by false information- Peak Bigotry.”
BJP leader Amit Malviya had also hit out at the opposition. “If food is a choice, and restaurants, including some MNCs, delivery apps, catering to Muslim sensibilities, prominently display Halal compliance certificates, then why should it be any different for fasting Hindus (Kanwar Yatris in this case), who may want to eat at a pure veg restaurant, where the likelihood of them being served Satvik food is higher? Is giving Hindus equal right to choice a sin?” he had said in a post on X.
The opposition parties have reacted strongly to the move calling it discriminatory.
(With inputs from agencies)
Nitish Kumar’s JD(U), which is an ally of BJP in Bihar and whose support is crucial for the survival of the NDA government at the Centre, said this directive is against Prime Minister’s philosophy of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” for Indian society and also the NDA.
“A Kanwar Yatra bigger than UP takes place in Bihar. No such order is in effect there. These prohibitions imposed by police in UP are in violation of Prime Minister Modi’s spirit of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. It will be good if the order is reviewed or taken back,” JD(U) leader KC Tyagi said.
Another Bihar ally of BJP, the Lok Janshakti Party, also opposed the move of UP police. “I will absolutely … never support or encourage” any divide in the name of caste or religion,” Union minister and LJP chief Chirag Paswan said opposing the Muzaffarnagar police advisory.
Paswan said he believes two classes of people – rich and poor – exist in the society and persons of different castes and religions fall in both categories. “We need to bridge the gap between these two classes of people. It is every government’s responsibility to work for the poor, which includes all sections of society such as Dalits, backwards, upper castes and Muslims as well. All are there. We need to work for them,” the LJP chief added.
And its not just allies in Bihar who are opposing the Kanwar advisory, the Rashtriya Lok Dal, which is a key partner of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, has also objected to the police order.
“Gandhiji, Chaudhary Charan Singh and other personalities have spoken about keeping religion and caste behind. Now, politicians are taking forward religion and caste forward in politics. I think the action is not correct. Why do you make someone write their name on street carts? They have the right to work … This tradition is absolutely wrong,” RLD national general secretary Trilok Tyagi said.
“It is up to the customer, they can make purchases from wherever they want … I would like to ask politicians – does consuming alcohol not corrupt you religiously? Does it happen only when you consume meat? So, why is there no prohibition on alcohol? Why do they not speak about alcohol? Because those who do business have a nexus, it is a game of the powerful. These small shops are set up by the poor. So, you are pointing fingers at them. I would demand that ban alcohol too,” he added.
Meanwhile, unfazed by the controversy triggered by the Muzaffarnagar police directive, cops of Haridwar in neighbouring Uttarakhand have issued similar order for eateries on Kanwar route in the district. Haridwar Police has warned of legal action against those who do not comply with the order.
“Regarding the preparations for Kanwar, we have given general instructions to the hotels, dhabas, restaurants and hawkers on the Kanwar route that they will write the name of the owner on their shops and if they fail to do so, we will take legal action against them. Many times, a situation of dispute arises due to this, hence this decision has been taken by us,” Haridwar SSP Padmendra Dobal said.
The BJP had yesterday come down heavily on the opposition parties for objecting to the directive of Muzaffarnagar police. The BJP leaders cited the display of Halal certification for Muslims to justify the move and questioned why a decision that has been taken to protect the religious beliefs of Kanwar devotees was being opposed.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla had slammed those objecting to the police order and said: “Display of Halal certification to ensure Muslims’ religious feelings are not hurt = Peak Secularism. Request to ALL eateries to comply with law & make proper disclosures of name to ensure that Kanwariyas’ Astha is not hurt by false information- Peak Bigotry.”
BJP leader Amit Malviya had also hit out at the opposition. “If food is a choice, and restaurants, including some MNCs, delivery apps, catering to Muslim sensibilities, prominently display Halal compliance certificates, then why should it be any different for fasting Hindus (Kanwar Yatris in this case), who may want to eat at a pure veg restaurant, where the likelihood of them being served Satvik food is higher? Is giving Hindus equal right to choice a sin?” he had said in a post on X.
The opposition parties have reacted strongly to the move calling it discriminatory.
(With inputs from agencies)