Nameplates and Halal: How Eatery Owners Complying With Uttar Pradesh Govt’s Kanwar Yatra Order

The government in Uttar Pradesh has taken a decision to widen a policy. It concerns all the food joints that line the Kanwar Yatra route needing to clearly display the identity of their owners. This move follows an initial enforcement by the Muzaffarnagar Police. Furthermore, Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, notes that comparable regulations are being put into practise in his state.

Kanwar Yatra 2024: The yogi-Adityanath Government in Uttar Pradesh has extended the order to all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owner’s name. The orders has extended across the state after Police implemented it in Muzaffarnagar. Similarly, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also stated that similar orders have been given in his state.

What Is The Order Issued In Muzaffarnagar

According to the order, dhabas, eateries and hotels along the yatra route have to display their owners’ names, mobile phone numbers and addresses. Recently, the police in Muzaffarnagar clarified their earlier advice during the Kanwar Yatra was aimed at avoiding any potential miscommunications.
“This has been done to ensure that there is no confusion among kanwariyas and no law-and-order situation arises. All are following this voluntarily,” district police chief Abhishek Singh said.

Opposition Parties Criticised The Orders

The Opposition parties heavily criticised the order, stating that it targets Muslim traders.

Here’s How Eatery Owners Reacted To The Order

According to proprietor of ‘Delhi Dhaba’, located on the Muzaffarnagar-Haridwar highway, they had displayed names of the owner’s as well as all employees working there with their contact numbers.

‘Shiva Tourist Dhaba’ owner had displayed the Aadhaar cards of all employees. All of them were Hindus. The owner, reacting to a question asked by News18 reporter that if he had employed any Muslims at his eatery, he said earlier four Muslim used to work there but had either been placed on leave or fired from job.

‘Veer Ji Da Dhaba’, owner Ibrar stated that he is happy with the directive as “it is upto the customer to decide where they want to eat and where not”. Ibrar also added that he feared losing business for the next few days. Notably, nine Hindu and seven Muslim workers are working at the Dhaba.

Kanwar Yatris Reactions

Majority of the Kanwar yatris expressed happiness with the decision, stating that it will help them make an informed choice. Some said that it does not affect them where they eat as devotion comes first.