Priyanka Gandhi Calls UP's Kanwar Route Directive Unconstitutional, Sparks Political Debate

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticized UP's directive for food shops on Kanwar routes to display owner details, labeling it unconstitutional. CM Yogi Adityanath defended the decision as a measure for pilgrimage sanctity. The directive has received mixed reactions, with some seeing it as divisive while others support it.

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday denounced the Uttar Pradesh government's directive for food shops on Kanwar routes to display details of their owners, calling it an attack on the Constitution. She asserted that this directive contravenes the constitutional provisions against discrimination based on caste, religion, language, or place of birth.

'Our Constitution guarantees every citizen that they will not be discriminated against on the basis of caste, religion, language or any other basis. The divisive order to put up name boards of the owners of carts, kiosks, and shops in Uttar Pradesh is an attack on our Constitution, our democracy, and our shared heritage,' stated Priyanka Gandhi in a post on X.

She called for the immediate withdrawal of the order and demanded strict action against the officials who issued it. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister's office clarified that the directive is part of an effort to maintain the sanctity and smooth conduct of the Kanwar Yatra. This annual pilgrimage begins on July 22.

The directive, which also targets shops selling halal-certified products, has sparked a political debate and elicited mixed reactions. BJP leader Mohsin Raza supported the move, emphasizing its importance for public security during the Kanwar Yatra. 'The facilities and management of Kanwar Yatra have always improved over the last seven years,' Raza said.

However, critics like RLD's Trilok Tyagi and RJD's Manoj Jha condemned the directive as divisive and unnecessary. Tyagi argued that religion and caste should not be politicized, while Jha called it a 'mindless exercise.' JDU leader KC Tyagi noted that no such order exists in other states like Bihar, Rajasthan, or Jharkhand.

On the other hand, some religious leaders in Ayodhya supported the directive. Jagatguru Ram Dineshacharya Ji Maharaj and Divakaracharya Ji Maharaj praised it as a measure to strengthen Sanatan culture. The chief priest of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple, Acharya Satendra Das, also endorsed the order, expressing concerns about Muslim-run shops under Hindu names.

(With inputs from agencies.)