Union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) leader Chirag Paswan has joined the chorus of BJP allies opposing the Muzaffarnagar police advisory requiring eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners’ names. Speaking to PTI, Paswan expressed his disapproval of the advisory, stating that he does not support any measures that create divisions based on caste or religion. He emphasized the need to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, a responsibility he believes falls on the government to address across all societal sections, including Dalits, backward, upper castes, and Muslims.
Janata Dal (United) leader KC Tyagi also urged the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider the order, pointing out that no such directive exists in Bihar, which hosts a larger Kanwar Yatra. Tyagi argued that the prohibitions violate the principles of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’ advocated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and called for the order to be rescinded.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) National General Secretary Trilok Tyagi criticized the advisory as discriminatory, arguing that it unfairly targets small vendors while ignoring more powerful business interests. He questioned the lack of alcohol prohibition, suggesting a double standard in enforcing moral and religious standards.
The controversy stems from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s mandate that food and beverage shops along Kanwar routes display the name and identity of their operators to maintain the sanctity of the pilgrims’ faith. The directive also includes actions against vendors selling halal-certified products.
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