Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has strongly denounced a recent police order in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, which mandates that the names of eatery owners along the Kanwar Yatra route be prominently displayed. The Congress leader labeled the directive as unconstitutional, asserting that it fosters societal division based on caste and religion.
“Creating division in society on the basis of caste and religion is a crime against the Constitution. This order should be withdrawn immediately and strict action should be taken against the officials who issued it,” read her post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“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,” read a rough translation of her Hindi post.
The police directive requires all food establishments along the 240-kilometer route of the Kanwar Yatra to display the names of their proprietors prominently. This measure, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Abhishek Singh, aims to avoid confusion during the religious procession and prevent potential law and order issues. Singh emphasized that compliance with the order is voluntary.
However, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the move, suggesting it was intended to discourage ‘Kanwariyas’ from patronizing Muslim-owned establishments. Opposition leaders compared the order to apartheid in South Africa and the discriminatory policies of Nazi Germany.
As the controversy escalated, the police issued a clarification, stating that the intention behind the order was not to incite religious discrimination but to facilitate the pilgrims.
The Kanwar Yatra, an annual pilgrimage dedicated to Lord Shiva, is set to commence on July 22.
