Former MP Acharya Pramod Krishnam Condemns Opposition Over Kanwar Yatra Controversy

Acharya Pramod Krishnam criticized Oppositon leaders including Samajwadi Party's Akhilesh Yadav for their views on displaying owner names during Kanwar Yatra in Muzaffarnagar, urging Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take stricter action. Akhilesh Yadav termed such orders as 'social crimes' and questioned the government's intentions.

In a sharp critique aimed at Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, following his comments on displaying owners' names along the Kanwar route, former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam accused opposition leaders of attempting to create divisions. 'Be it Akhilesh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party, or Asaduddin Owaisi, they all have issues with the Kanwar Yatra. They aim to create divisions within the Kanwar procession. We show our ID at the airport and railway station, so what's the problem here? What are they trying to hide?' Krishnam questioned.

Krishnam urged Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take strict action against leaders making such divisive comments. 'I request CM Yogi Adityanath Ji to act against these anti-social elements. The Kanwar Yatra must be completed peacefully and securely,' he emphasized. The controversy erupted as eateries on the Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar were asked to display owners' names. Akhilesh Yadav, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, deemed such orders as 'social crimes' and urged the court to take suo-moto cognizance.

Akhilesh Yadav further appealed to the court to scrutinize the government's intentions behind these directives. In a social media post on X, he wrote, 'What will be known from the name of Guddu, Munna, Chhotu or Fateh? The court should examine the intention behind such administration and enforce appropriate actions. These orders are social crimes aiming to disrupt the harmonious environment,' he asserted.

Meanwhile, Muzaffarnagar Police clarified that the order urging eateries to 'voluntarily display' owners' names aimed at facilitating devotees and maintaining public order. 'During the Shravan Kanwar Yatra, numerous Kanwariyas gather water from Haridwar, passing through Muzaffarnagar. Instances of confusion due to misleading shop names have previously led to law and order issues. To prevent recurrence and respect the faith of devotees, food sellers on Kanwar Marg are requested to display names voluntarily,' they explained. The police stressed that the directive aimed at easing the journey for Kanwariyas and had no religious discrimination intent.

(With inputs from agencies.)