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UP Govt Mandates Name Display For Eateries Along Kanwar Yatra Route, Islamists Like Zubair & Owaisi Call It “Dangerous”, Compare It To “Apartheid”, Netizens Call Out Hypocrisy

July 18, 2024
The Commune

The Uttar Pradesh state government and local administrations have ramped up security measures to ensure the smooth completion of the Kanwar Yatra, scheduled to take place from 22 July 2024 to 2 August 2024. In Muzaffarnagar, the local administration has mandated that proprietors and operators of food establishments such as hotels, dhabas, and carts along the Yatra route display their names. This measure aims to prevent confusion and potential confrontations among Kanwariyas, according to SSP Abhishek Singh.

SSP Singh explained to the media that this initiative helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures a peaceful yatra. “Kanwariyas can buy goods from anywhere,“ he emphasized, noting that many eateries have voluntarily complied with the order by putting up signs with their names.

SSP Singh reiterated that the measure is intended solely to maintain order and safety. Police personnel from various stations, including Nai Mandi, Chhapar, Purkaji, Mansoorpur, and Khatauli, are actively enforcing the order, with many eateries near Meenakshi Chowk already displaying the required signs.

This administrative decision follows allegations that some Muslim eatery owners have been using fake Hindu names on their posters, potentially deceiving vegetarian customers and causing conflicts. Swami Yashveer Maharaj has been vocal about this issue, claiming that many Muslim-owned eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route disguise their identity, which could hurt the sentiments of Shiva devotees. He has called for transparency and warned of protests if the administration fails to act.

“The identity of people from a particular community operating shops by putting up boards with the names of Hindu deities should be made public,” Swami Yashveer Maharaj demanded, emphasizing the need for a campaign to address this issue.

Hindus Welcome Move

Hindu netizens welcomed the move by the UP government and indicated that this was necessary since several Islamists tend to sell food that should not be consumed during the Yatra out of spite. Additionally, there was a danger of stone pelting and violence during the Yatra.

 

Some netizens called out the bigotry of Muslims for eating in Halal-certified shops but who cry hoarse when it comes to Hindus.

Islamists Raise Uproar Upon Hearing About Order

Upon hearing the announcement, Islamists like AIMIM Chief Owaisi, alleged fact-checker Mohammed Zubair, and several other Islamists accused the administration of religious discrimination.

Asaduddin Owaisi who said “Jai Palestine” while taking oath in the Parliament after the Lok Sabha polls, compared the move to the “Apartheid” of South Africa and the “Judenboycott” of Hitler’s Germany.

“As per the order of Uttar Pradesh Police, now every food shop or cart owner will have to put his name on the board so that no Kanwadia buys anything from a Muslim shop by mistake. This was called Apartheid in South Africa and in Hitler’s Germany it was called ‘Judenboycott’.“

Alleged fact-checker Zubair called it “dangerous” and whined about it being discriminatory based on religion. He wrote, “Isn’t this discrimination based on religion? Asking the small time vendors to display their names on their shops? What if these shop owners are selectively targeted by extremists by seeing the names on the display board?”

The same Islamists would prefer to buy from Muslim-run shops and also not allow Hindus to pass through “Muslim areas”.

It is noteworthy that Kanwar Yatras often turn violent with Islamists pelting stones and attacking the Hindus taking the Yatra. It is fresh in our memory what happened in the Shobha Yatra in Nuh, Haryana in 2023.

(With inputs from OpIndia)

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