'Kanwar Yatra' in India: Why is THIS move of UP Police being compared to 'Nazi Germany'?
Published By Srishti Sisodia
Published: Jul 18, 2024, 03:31 IST | Updated: Jul 18, 2024, 03:31 IST
Kanwar Yatra
Local police in Muzaffarnagar city in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh are facing flak for their so-called controversial order for all food joints along the 'Kanwar Yatra' route. In an advisory on Thursday (Jul 18), the Muzaffarnagar police asked all food joints along the route to display their owner's name prominently to avoid "confusion" during the religious procession.
During a press conference, Abhishek Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police, Muzaffarnagar, said: "Preparations have begun for the 'Kanwar Yatra'. In the area under our jurisdiction, which is around 240 km, all eateries, hotels, dhabas, and thelas (roadside carts) have been instructed to display the names of their proprietors or those running the shop."
"This is being done to ensure that there's no confusion among the 'Kanwariyas' and no allegations are raised in the future, leading to a law and order situation. Everyone is following this of their own free will," Singh said.
The controversy erupted when All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi claimed that this move was to ensure no 'Kanwariya' buys anything from a Muslim owner's shop.
In a post on X, Owaisi said, "As per the order of the Uttar Pradesh Police, now every food shop or cart owner must put his name on the board so that no Kanwadia buys anything from a Muslim shop by mistake. This was called Apartheid in South Africa and in Hitler's Germany, it was called 'Judenboycott'."
उत्तर प्रदेश पुलिस के आदेश के अनुसार अब हर खाने वाली दुकान या ठेले के मालिक को अपना नाम बोर्ड पर लगाना होगा ताकि कोई कांवड़िया गलती से मुसलमान की दुकान से कुछ न खरीद ले। इसे दक्षिण अफ्रीका में अपारथाइड कहा जाता था और हिटलर की जर्मनी में इसका नाम 'Judenboycott' था। https://t.co/lgvCf2HoQE
Javed Akhtar, who is a Bollywood lyricist and screenwriter, even compared the move with Nazi Germany and raised concerns over why such instructions had been put out by the police.
Akhtar posted on X: "Muzaffarnagar UP police has given instructions that on the route of a particular religious procession in near future all the shops restaurants and even vehicles should show the owner's name prominently and clearly. Why? In Nazi Germany, they used to make only a mark on particular shops and houses."
Muzaffarnagar UP police has given instructions that on the route of a particular religious procession in near future all the shops restaurants n even vehicles should show the name of the owner prominently and clearly . Why ? . In Nazi Germany they used to make only a mark on…
Earlier this month, Chief Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh government Manoj Kumar Singh and Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar held a meeting ahead of the yatra.
They said that the government would monitor the upcoming Kanwar Yatra with a helicopter and also shower flowers on 'Kanwariyas'.
The government directed the officials that "good behaviour" should be maintained towards the 'Kanwariyas' as it is the government's responsibility to ensure the safe completion of the yatra.
He said that special attention should be paid towards the cleanliness of Kanwar camps and routes and efforts should be made to make the yatra completely plastic-free.
People from different parts of India walk to Rishikesh and Haridwar in Uttarakhand state during the holy month of Sawan, which this year starts on July 22, to collect water from the Ganga river and bring it back to offer to their deity in Shiva temples.
(With inputs from agencies)