Controversial Kanwar Yatra order to face Parl and SC scrutiny today

The controversy surrounding the directive from the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments, which mandates eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners’ names, intensified as the BJP’s ally, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), joined the Opposition in demanding its withdrawal. The Opposition parties have vowed to bring up the issue in Parliament.

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The matter has reached the Supreme Court, which will hear a plea from the NGO Association of Protection of Civil Rights against the UP government’s order on Monday.

Opposition parties argue that the order is “communal and divisive,” targeting Muslims and Scheduled Castes by forcing them to reveal their identities. However, the BJP defends the directive as a measure to address law and order issues and respect the religious sentiments of pilgrims.

At an all-party meeting on Sunday, on the eve of the Parliament session, Opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, SP, and AAP criticised the order and demanded a discussion in Parliament. Samajwadi Party’s Ram Gopal Yadav accused the BJP of pursuing divisive politics aimed at Muslims.

After JD(U), another BJP ally Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Chaudhary disapproved of the order and demanded that it be rescinded.