In a move that has sparked significant controversy and political debate, the Uttar Pradesh government has extended a contentious directive across the entire Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar.
The order mandates that all eateries, food outlets, and food joints along the 240-km route display the names of their owners and staff members.
This directive aims to uphold the purity of faith for Hindu devotees participating in the annual Kanwar Yatra during the month of Shravan.
Allegations of religious discrimination have emerged in response to the implementation of this order.
Critics argue that it disproportionately targets minority communities and certain sections of society.
Notably, the directive also stipulates that food establishments selling products with Halal certification will be subject to penal action, adding to the controversy.
The Kanwar Yatra, beginning on 22 July, marks the start of the Shravan month.
Devotees from Delhi, Haryana, and Rajasthan will travel to Haridwar and Rishikesh to collect Ganga water for offerings at Lord Shiva temples.
The Uttar Pradesh government has also announced plans to enhance the festival experience by showering flower petals from helicopters on the Kanwar Yatris.
Opposition leaders have sharply criticized the directive.
Congress has denounced it as a targeted boycott of Muslims and Dalits, while Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav has called for judicial intervention against what he describes as a hate-filled order.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has compared the directive to apartheid in South Africa and the persecution of Jews under Nazi rule.
As the Kanwar Yatra approaches, tensions continue to rise, reflecting broader political and communal divisions within the state.
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