Kanwar Yatra 2024: Muzaffarnagar's Directive For Eateries to Display Names Sparks Row

Lucknow: Following the Muzzafarnagar police's order for eateries on the Kanwar Yatra Route to display their owners' names, Samajwadi President Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday, July 18 argued that this move is a “social crime," and further demanded the courts to take suo motu cognisance of the matter.

In a tweet posted on X, Akhilesh said, “…and what will be known from the name of the one whose name is Guddu, Munna, Chhotu or Fatte?”

"The honourable court should take suo motu cognizance and investigate the intentions of the government behind such administration and take appropriate punitive action. Such orders are social crimes, which want to spoil the peaceful atmosphere of harmony," Akhilesh continued. 

This decision received a heavy flashback from politicians and members of civil society, with the opposition alleging that this order by the Police in Muzaffarnagar, is a move to 'target Muslim traders.," PTI reported. 

Earlier this week, the Muzaffarnagar police chief Abhishek Singh said, "About 240 km of Kanwar Yatra route falls in the district. All the eateries, including hotels, dhabas and carts, on the route, have been asked to display the names of their proprietors or those working on these shops."

"This has been done to ensure that there should be no confusion among kanwariyas and no law and order situation arises. All are following this voluntarily," he told the media. 

(Inputs from PTI)