Controversy Erupts Over Mandatory Name Displays on Kanwar Route Eateries

Jayant Chaudhary, chief of the BJP ally Rashtriya Lok Dal, has demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government revoke its order requiring eateries along the Kanwar route to display owners' names. He argued that the Kanwar pilgrimage transpires without religious bias, and criticized the policy for targeting Muslim traders.

BJP ally Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary on Sunday demanded the Uttar Pradesh government roll back its order that eateries along the Kanwar route must display the names of their owners, stating the pilgrimage does not belong to any one religion or caste.

Chaudhary pointed out that kanwariyas do not inquire about anyone's religion when requesting services and emphasized that the pilgrimage should remain secular.

In response to the recent directive from the Muzaffarnagar Police, which has now been extended statewide, opposition parties and even members of the ruling alliance have condemned the move, claiming it singles out Muslim traders.

Chaudhary argued the decision seemed poorly thought out and insisted on either a rollback or reduced emphasis on its implementation, suggesting the requirement could escalate to extreme measures, like wearing name tags to identify religion.