As the Kanwar Yatra 2024 is all set to begin from July 22, the instructions have been issued to display the names of the street shop owners in the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttar Pradesh and Ujjain.
In the latest, the Ujjain Municipal Corporation notified that violators of this order will be fined ₹2,000 for the first offence and ₹5,000 for a repeat violation. He emphasized that the order is intended to ensure safety and transparency, not to single out Muslim shop owners.
Row Over Displaying Names
The recent notice to the eateries shops to display names of the owners have triggered issues. This step purportedly to avoid any ‘confusion’ — has sparked allegations of bias against Muslim traders.
Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said, “As per the order of Uttar Pradesh Police, now every food shop or cart owner will have to put his name on the board so that no Kanwadia buys anything from a Muslim shop by mistake. This was called Apartheid in South Africa and in Hitler’s Germany it was called Judenboycott.”
Akhilesh Yadav said, “And what if the name of the owner is Guddu, Munna, Chhotu or Fatte? What can you find out from these names? The honourable court should take suo motu cognizance of this matter and investigate the intentions of the government and take appropriate punitive action. Such an order is a social crime aimed at spoiling the peaceful atmosphere and harmony.”
Ujjain Mayor Clarification:
The mayor clarified that the rule is meant to improve safety and transparency and is not aimed at targeting any particular group.
Ujjain, the hometown of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, is famous for its Mahakal temple and attracts many visitors, especially during the Savaan month starting Monday.
Tatwal explained that the city had planned this requirement back in 2002, but implementation was delayed due to initial size and color requirements for the nameplates. Now, the rules are simpler, just requiring names and contact details.
He added that this rule is part of the MP Shop Establishment Act and aims to protect customers by allowing them to identify shopkeepers if there are issues.
Ujjain will host the Simhastha (Kumbh) Mela in 2028, a major religious event held every 12 years.
Also Read: Guru Purnima 2024: Its Significance And History
Both Muslim & Hindu owners ask staff to quit
The order has affected not only the income of Muslim shop owners and their employees but also Muslim workers employed at Hindu-owned eateries.
Animesh Tyagi, who runs a roadside eatery near the main market in Khatauli, shared, “A Muslim man used to work on the tandoor at my restaurant. However, due to this issue, I had to let him go. People might create problems over it, and we want to avoid such trouble.”
Ramdev’s Remark
Yoga Guru Ramdev weighed in on the debate surrounding the Uttar Pradesh government’s directive requiring food shops along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners’ names. Ramdev’s comments come amidst widespread criticism from opposition parties and leaders, who claim the directive discriminates based on religion.
“If I have no issue with revealing my identity, why should Rehman? Everyone should be proud of their name. There’s no need to hide it; purity in work is what matters. If our work is pure, it doesn’t matter if we’re Hindu, Muslim, or from any other community,” Ramdev said.
The controversy started when the Uttar Pradesh government mandated that food establishments along the Kanwar Yatra route must display the names of their owners. Although intended to promote transparency and accountability, many see this order as an attempt to identify and possibly target Muslim-owned businesses.
