22 Jul. 24: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has approached the Supreme Court, challenging the directives issued by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments mandating eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners, as per a report by the MSN citing PTI.
In her plea, Moitra has requested a stay on these orders, arguing that such directives exacerbate communal discord. The plea is pending listing for a hearing.
Moitra’s petition asserts that requiring the disclosure of owners’ and staff members’ names under the guise of respecting pilgrims’ dietary choices is a pretext for compelled disclosure of religious identity. She claims this directive aims to socially enforce an economic boycott against Muslim shop owners and workers, threatening their livelihoods.
“Since June 2023, the Uttar Pradesh government has empowered anti-social elements by targeting Muslim-owned businesses based on false and malicious information,” the petition states. It alleges that the government’s actions have fostered conditions for an economic boycott of Muslim minorities under the pretext of their ‘impure’ dietary choices.
On Monday, the Supreme Court is set to hear a related plea filed by the NGO Association of Protection of Civil Rights against the Uttar Pradesh government’s controversial order. The bench, comprising justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti, will hear the case.
As the Kanwar Yatra begins on Monday, with devotees carrying holy water from the Ganges in Haridwar to Shiva temples, extensive arrangements and security measures have been implemented across several states. Spanning from July 22 to August 19, this period of worship includes five Mondays, significant in the Hindu calendar.
The Muzaffarnagar police’s order, now extended statewide, has faced strong criticism from opposition parties and some members of the ruling NDA, who argue it discriminates against Muslim traders.
