Controversy Surrounds Uttar Pradesh's Directive for Food Shops to Display Owners' Names

Aaditya Thackeray and the CPI (M) condemned Uttar Pradesh's directive for food shops to display owners' names, citing it as a move to create communal distance. BJP leaders, however, defended it as a routine practice used during previous governments.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday condemned the Uttar Pradesh government's directive for food shops to display owners' names, describing it as a BJP attempt to create communal distance. Thackeray questioned the appropriateness of such a mandate, even if the owner is a BJP member.

In contrast, West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Sukanta Majumdar supported the directive, highlighting that similar notifications were issued during the Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav governments. Majumdar argued that it is a routine exercise and not specific to the Kanwar Yatra, asserting that the opposition is misleading people and spreading lies on the issue.

The Uttar Pradesh government has mandated all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners' names. Moreover, the Haridwar Police Administration issued an order on Friday for restaurant owners to display names along the Kanwar Yatra route. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) strongly condemned the directive, labeling it a move to sharpen communal polarisation and stating that it undermines the fundamental right of equality for all citizens.

(With inputs from agencies.)