Uttarakhand chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has justified his government’s decision to make it mandatory for all shopkeepers along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names outside the shops by claiming that it was an example of social harmony.
“Uttarakhand is a peaceful state where people of all religions live together in perfect social harmony. Nobody has any objection in declaring their names and addresses,” Dhami said on Saturday.
Dhami’s statement comes a day after district-level officials across the state issued orders to the shopkeepers along the Kanwar Yatra route to mention their names and addresses on their stores and eateries.
During the yatra, which will start on July 22 and continue till August 2, kanwariyas carry water from the Ganga and offer it to Shiva in temples of their choice. Several kanwariyas travel on foot from Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Delhi to Kedarnath in Uttarakhand.
There have been allegations that Muslim shopkeepers in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand name their stores after Hindu gods to attract the kanwariyas and it often ends up in a brawl.
Although the hill state implemented the order on Friday, two days after Uttar Pradesh, Dhami said: “We took a decision to this effect on July 12 because the name-related confusions have led to several law and order issues in the state in the past. It is wrong to conceal your real identity for business. Nobody in the state is against the order.”
Pramendra Dobhal, senior superintendent of police of Haridwar, said: “We are also holding meetings with the restaurant owners to ensure that the devotees get quality food during their journey. All the police station in-charges have been asked to ensure that the restaurant owners not only mention their correct identity on the boards but also the prices of every item.”
While some Muslim businessmen in west Uttar Pradesh have put up their names on signboards, others have decided to shut shop till August 2. A few others have rented out their outlets to Hindus.
Mohammad Wasim, the owner of a roadside restaurant at Chhapar in Purkazi, Muzaffarnagar, said: “I have given it to one Manoj Pal to run. There is no point arguing over this issue.”
Maulana Mahmood Madani, a leader of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, said: “The governments should immediately withdraw this order because it would promote untouchability in the society. They want to make the Muslims the second-grade citizens.”