The Uttar Pradesh government’s order mandating eateries, tea stalls, and fruit carts to display nameplates during the Kanwar yatra has sparked differences within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). BJP allies Janata Dal (United), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), and Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) have opposed the directive, calling it unconstitutional and divisive.
RLD state president Ramashish Rai criticized the decision as “communally divisive and unconstitutional” and urged the U.P. administration to retract it. The RLD, which has nine MLAs in U.P., including two Muslims, emphasized the importance of community interdependence. RLD MP Chandan Chauhan highlighted the party’s legacy of opposing communal divisions, and RLD general secretary Trilok Tyagi suggested that if the government values the yatra’s sanctity, it should also consider closing liquor shops during the event.
JD(U) general secretary K.C. Tyagi, referencing larger Kanwar yatras in Bihar and Jharkhand without such orders, argued that the directive contradicts PM Modi’s vision of inclusive development. He called for the U.P. government to reconsider the order.
Union Minister and LJP president Chirag Paswan also opposed the advisory, stating he would never support actions that create divisions based on caste or religion.
Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who had initially criticized the Muzaffarnagar police order as promoting untouchability, later accepted the broader U.P. government order, viewing it as a gesture of respect for religious sentiments without a communal agenda.
In Muzaffarnagar, proprietors have begun complying with the directive, displaying their names and phone numbers on banners. Some, like Enjoy Cafe owner Mohd Phulbahar, expressed concerns that the order could foster communal divides and harm business. Lokesh Bharti, owner of Sakshi Tourist Dhaba, mentioned removing Muslim employees temporarily due to the directive, expressing sadness for their job loss.
Grocery store owner Mohd Khaleel, who has served kanwariyas for years, worried about the impact on customer interactions and business integrity.
The Kanwar yatra, starting Monday and concluding on August 2, has seen these developments amidst calls for the government to reconsider its stance in light of communal harmony and constitutional values.
