Priyanka Gandhi Criticizes UP Government’s Directive on Kanwar Yatra Shops
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has criticized the Uttar Pradesh government’s directive that requires food shops on Kanwar Yatra routes to display the details of their owners. She called this directive an attack on the Constitution, which guarantees that no citizen shall be discriminated against based on caste, religion, language, or place of birth.
Priyanka Gandhi stated, “Our Constitution guarantees every citizen that he will not be discriminated against on the basis of caste, religion, language or any other basis. The divisive order to put up name boards of the owners of carts, kiosks and shops in Uttar Pradesh is an attack on our Constitution, our democracy and our shared heritage.” She urged for the order to be withdrawn immediately and for strict action against the officials who issued it.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s office explained that the directive, mandated by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aims to maintain the sanctity of the Kanwar Yatra. The annual pilgrimage begins on July 22, and the directive includes action against shops selling halal-certified products. The move has received mixed reactions and sparked political debate.
BJP leader Mohsin Raza supported the directive, stating, “Kanwar Yatra takes place on a large scale in UP. CM Yogi Adityanath has always been attentive towards the security of the public.” He added that the opposition is trying to oppose the Kanwar Yatra, not the advisory.
RLD National General Secretary Trilok Tyagi criticized the directive, saying it brings religion and caste into politics unnecessarily. RJD leader Manoj Jha called it a “mindless exercise,” questioning the logic behind it. JDU leader KC Tyagi noted that no such order exists in Bihar, Rajasthan, or Jharkhand, and suggested the directive be reviewed.
Some religious leaders in Ayodhya have supported the order. Jagatguru Ram Dineshacharya Ji Maharaj and Divakaracharya Ji Maharaj of Leela Bihari Temple called it a “beautiful initiative.” The chief priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Acharya Satendra Das, supported the order, citing concerns about Muslim-run shops under Hindu names.
Doubts Revealed
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra -: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is a leader from the Congress party in India. She is the daughter of Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, and the sister of Rahul Gandhi.
Uttar Pradesh -: Uttar Pradesh, often called UP, is a state in northern India. It is the most populous state in the country.
Kanwar Yatra -: Kanwar Yatra is a religious pilgrimage in India where devotees of Lord Shiva, called Kanwariyas, walk to collect holy water from the Ganges River.
Directive -: A directive is an official order or instruction given by an authority. In this case, it is an order from the UP government.
Unconstitutional -: Unconstitutional means something that goes against the rules and principles set by the Constitution of India, which is the supreme law of the country.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath -: Yogi Adityanath is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. He is a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a Hindu monk.
Sanctity -: Sanctity means the state of being holy or sacred. In this context, it refers to keeping the religious pilgrimage pure and respectful.
BJP -: BJP stands for Bharatiya Janata Party, which is one of the major political parties in India. It is currently the ruling party in the country.
Mohsin Raza -: Mohsin Raza is a politician from the BJP. He supports the UP government’s directive for security reasons.
RLD -: RLD stands for Rashtriya Lok Dal, a political party in India. It is mainly active in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
RJD -: RJD stands for Rashtriya Janata Dal, a political party in India. It is mainly active in the state of Bihar.
JDU -: JDU stands for Janata Dal (United), a political party in India. It is mainly active in the state of Bihar.
Ayodhya -: Ayodhya is a city in Uttar Pradesh, India. It is considered a holy city in Hinduism and is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Rama.