Kanwar Yatra: Muzaffarnagar Police's 'Add Names' Advisory Sparks Debate; Owaisi Calls It Hitler Regime Move

Kanwar Yatra: Muzaffarnagar police's latest notification requesting eateries owners to display their owner's and employees' names, has sparked a debate. At a time when preparations are in full swing for the Kanwar Yatra starting from July 22, the Police's latest advisory may leave a bad impact in the sensitive zone, Muzaffarnagar. However, Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar police made it clear that their intentions behind the order were not to create any religious divide, but only to facilitate devotees during the yatra.

"During the Shravan month Kanwar Yatra, a large number of Kanwariyas from neighbouring states, via Western Uttar Pradesh, collect water from Haridwar and pass through Muzaffarnagar district. During the holy month of Shravan, many people, especially Kanwariyas, abstain from certain food items in their diet," the Muzaffarnagar police stated.

A precautionary measure:

In light of past incidents, the police said that names of some eateries, selling all types of food items (veg and non-veg) on Kanwar Marg, create confusion amoung the devotees. For ease of devotees, and to maintain law and order situation in the area, police has requested sellers to display their names on the board.

"To prevent such a recurrence and in view of the faith of the devotees, hotels, dhabas and shopkeepers selling food items on Kanwar Marg have been requested to voluntarily display the names of their owners and employees. The intention of this order is not to create any kind of religious discrimination but only to facilitate the devotees passing through Muzaffarnagar district, counter allegations and save the law and order situation. This system has been prevalent in the past, too," the advisory added.

Political reaction:

Reacting to the police directive, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi slammed Uttar Pradesh Police calling it a similar thing that happened in Germany under Hitler's regime to create a divide.

"As per the order of the 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'," Owaisi posted on X.

Earlier this week, UP CM Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level meeting with senior police officials and several ministers of the state to review preparations for Kanwar Yatra.