Himachal Govt Backtracks, 'Nameplate on Eateries' Decision Sent To Committee

Shimla: Facing criticism over Minister Vikramaditya Singh's announcement on the mandatory display of names by street vendors, the Himachal Pradesh government clarified on Thursday that no such decision had been finalized.

Singh, the state's Public Works and Urban Development Minister, had informed the media on Wednesday that street vendors, particularly those selling food, would be required to display their identity cards at their stalls. He mentioned that the decision followed a similar policy implemented by the Uttar Pradesh government.

"We have decided to make it mandatory for street vendors to display ID cards provided by the street vendor committee, following the model pioneered by the Uttar Pradesh government," Singh had stated.

However, in a subsequent statement, the state government clarified that no decision had been made to mandate street vendors to display nameplates or other forms of identification.

Singh explained that the idea stemmed from "apprehensions" voiced by locals about the increasing number of migrants in the state, a remark that drew criticism from several leaders of the INDIA bloc after he posted it on Facebook.

BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, Jai Ram Thakur, responded on Thursday, asserting that Singh should stand by his statement. "If Vikramaditya Singh has spoken about implementing the vendors' policy following the Uttar Pradesh model, he should stick to his words," Thakur said.

Last week, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania established a seven-member committee led by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan to develop a 'Street Vendors' policy.

The call to register outside workers using identification came in the wake of large-scale protests, weeks earlier, over the demolition of alleged unauthorised sections of a mosque in Sanjauli. Hindu groups had held demonstrations across the state, demanding that workers coming to Himachal Pradesh from other regions be registered.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath , citing concerns about hygiene and safety, had recently ordered food stall operators to prominently display their names and addresses. He also mandated that chefs and waiters wear masks and gloves, and required CCTV cameras to be installed in hotels and restaurants, following incidents involving spitting and the alleged mixing of urine in food.

(With agency inputs)