Uttar Pradesh's ID Card Rule for Kanwar Yatra Sparks Political Firestorm

The Uttar Pradesh government's mandate for shop ID cards on the Kanwar Yatra route has ignited political controversy between the BJP and opposition parties. Leaders from both sides voiced their concerns, with some viewing the guideline as a measure for communal harmony and others as a divisive act.

The Uttar Pradesh government's enforcement of ID cards for all shops along the Kanwar Yatra route has triggered a fierce political debate between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition. BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi highlighted the necessity of maintaining communal harmony while addressing the guideline-related confusion.

'Confusion had erupted based on a limited administrative guideline. I am glad the State Government clarified all communal confusion. Nobody objects to the devotion, respect, and safety of the Kanwar Yatra. Any attempts to create communal confusion are detrimental to both society and humanity,' Naqvi emphasized. 'Having taken the Kanwar Yatra myself multiple times, I believe respect towards faith and its safety are crucial. Politics should stay out of it,' he added.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh's Minister of State (Independent Charge), Kapil Dev Aggarwal, clarified that the guideline targets food shops using Hindu names but selling non-veg food, primarily run by Muslims. 'The district administration was urged to identify and prohibit such establishments to respect the Kanwariyas' faith,' Aggarwal stated. He denounced the Hindu-Muslim angle, stressing it as a matter of social harmony and informed dining choices.

Opposition Congress leader Ajay Rai criticized the guideline for fostering division, labeling it impractical. 'It undermines social brotherhood and should be immediately revoked. Officials enforcing this should face suspension,' Rai demanded. Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple's chief priest, Acharya Satendra Das, backed the order, citing cleanliness and clear identification of shop owners by religion to prevent discrimination.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath mandated food and beverage shops along the Kanwar route to display the operator's name and identity to uphold the sanctity of the pilgrims' faith, also targeting the sale of halal-certified products. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the move, likening it to apartheid and demanding a written order from Adityanath to end perceived discrimination against Muslims.

Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav condemned the guideline as a 'social crime,' urging the court to investigate the government's intentions, questioning the logic of discerning identity from names like Guddu or Chhotu. On Thursday, Adityanath instructed officials to ensure the event's smooth conduct, focusing on peace and security during the Kanwar Yatra.