Kanwar Yatra eateries row: Supreme Court to hear plea against Uttar Pradesh govt order on Monday

The Supreme Court is set to hear pleas against a controversial order that called for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of owners on Monday. The directive passed earlier this week by the Uttar Pradesh government and echoed by the Uttarakhand administration has sparked widespread outrage in recent days. Members of three BJP-allied parties have also spoken out against the order.

A Supreme Court bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti is likely to hear the plea filed by an NGO - Association of Protection of Civil Rights - against the UP government order on Monday.

Others including TMC MP Mahua Moitra have also moved the apex court against the directives issued by the UP and Uttarakhand governments. The senior politician contended that such directives aggravate discord between communities and sought a stay on the orders. The plea is yet to be listed for hearing.

The Muzaffarnagar Police waded into controversy earlier this week after asking all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners' names. Days later the Yogi Adityanath-led government extended the order across the state in spite of vocal protests from several quarters. The order has snowballed into a controversy with opposition parties, civil society and even some ruling alliance leaders criticising it. Critics contend that the new rule will ‘target Muslim traders’.

Small fruit vendors, and dhabas fear their earnings will be severely hit by the move. According to a PTI report on Sunday, both Muslim and Hindu owners have now begun asking their staff to quit. 

“My dhaba is named Baba ka Dhaba, like every third dhaba on this route. More than half of my staff are Hindus. We serve only vegetarian food here and even avoid using garlic and onion during Shravan (monsoon). Still, as the owner, I had to display my name. I have also decided to change the name of the dhaba. I fear that Kanwariyas after looking at a Muslim name will not come and eat at my place,” Dhaba owner Arsalan told the publication.

The order has also affected Muslim staffers in eateries owned by Hindus — with many opting to let workers go in order to avoid ‘trouble’.

The Kanwar Yatra will commence on the first day of Sawan (Shravan) on Monday and will culminate on August 2 as holy Ganga water will be offered to Lord Shiva.

(With inputs from agencies)