Mehbooba Mufti Criticizes UP Government’s Directive on Kanwar Yatra Food Shops

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 20: The People’s Democratic Party chief, Mehbooba Mufti, criticized the Uttar Pradesh government’s directive for food shops on the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners’ names. She claimed that the BJP wants to finish the rights of Muslims, Dalits, and other sections.

Addressing a press conference, Mufti said, “Our Constitution gives equal rights and it does not discriminate against anyone. They (BJP) are violating the Constitution. Rahul Gandhi rightly said that if they cross 400 (seats in Lok Sabha elections) then they are going to destroy the Constitution. These people came down from 350 to 240 but still they did not learn the lesson.”

She added, “I think the people who voted for them in this election must have got the hint that they want to destroy the Constitution at any cost. They want to finish the rights of Muslims, Dalits, and then other sections because they want to create a different system here.”

Mufti expressed happiness that everyone is raising their voice on the issue and urged Prime Minister Modi to clarify his stance. “I am happy that everyone is raising their voice on this and Modi ji should also tell whether he is supporting this thing or not,” she said.

Amid the controversy, the Haridwar Police Administration also issued an order for restaurant owners to display names on the Kanwar Yatra route. Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, criticized the move and urged the court to take suo-motto cognizance of the matter. He labeled such orders as “social crimes” and said they could deteriorate the peaceful environment of the region.

Earlier, Muzaffarnagar Police stated that the police have urged all eateries to “voluntarily display” the names of their owners and employees. They clarified that the intention of this order is not to create any kind of “religious discrimination” but only to facilitate the devotees. “During the Shravan Kanwar Yatra, a large number of Kanwariyas from neighboring states, via Western Uttar Pradesh, collect water from Haridwar and pass through Muzaffarnagar district. During the holy month of Shravan, many people, especially Kanwariyas, abstain from certain food items in their diet,” the Muzaffarnagar police stated.

They added, “In the past, such instances have come to light where some shopkeepers selling all types of food items on Kanwar Marg named their shops in such a way that it created confusion among the Kanwariyas and created a law and order situation. To prevent such a recurrence and in view of the faith of the devotees, hotels, dhabas, and shopkeepers selling food items on Kanwar Marg have been requested to voluntarily display the names of their owners and employees. The intention of this order is not to create any kind of religious discrimination but only to facilitate the devotees passing through Muzaffarnagar district, counter allegations, and save the law and order situation. This system has been prevalent in the past, too.”