EATERIES ON KANWAR YATRA ROUTE ASKED TO DISPLAY OWNERS' NAMES

SP chief Akhilesh says such orders are social crimes,’ can deteriorate peaceful environment

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Police here have ordered that all eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route should display names of owners to avoid any “confusion”, a move seen by the opposition parties as targeting Muslim traders.

Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera called the order “state-sponsored bigotry”. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi compared it to Apartheid and Judenboykott, the boycott of Jewish businesses in Hitler’s Germany.

Muzaffarnagar police chief Abhishek Singh on Monday said, “Preparations of Sawan month have started in the district. About 240 km of Kanwar Yatra route falls in the district. All the eateries, including hotels, dhabas and carts, on the route have been asked to display the names of their proprietors or those working on these shops.”

Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday pleaded the court to take suo-motto cognizance on the matter.

He labelled such orders as “social crimes,” and said such orders can deteriorate the peaceful environment of the region.

Furthermore, he also urged the court to investigate the intention of the government and administration behind such orders.

Criticising the order, former CM Akhilesh Yadav also asked what names such as Guddu, Munna, Chhotu, or Fateh would clarify.