In a key development, the Supreme Court on Monday has temporarily stayed the directive from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh requiring eateries along the Kanwariya Yatra route to display the names of their owners.
The Court issued notices to these state governments, requesting their responses to the petitions challenging the mandate. The next hearing is scheduled for July 26.
The Supreme Court emphasized that food vendors should not be forced to display the names of their owners and staff.
The directive has sparked political debate. BJP MP Arun Govil supported the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision, arguing that it is reasonable for consumers to know where their food comes from. On the other hand, Samajwadi Party MP Awadhesh Prasad criticized the directive, claiming it undermines national unity and should be repealed.
Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Om Prakash Rajbhar backed the directive, stating that it was originally introduced by the UPA government in 2006. “It was a law made by the UPA government in the year 2006. The BJP and NDA government did not come up with any new law. We are only doing the work they were not able to do,” Rajbhar said.
In response to the controversy, UP Congress state president Ajay Rai suggested that Chirag Paswan and Jayant Chaudhary should withdraw their support from the government if they oppose the decision.
On July 19, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered that food and beverage shops along Kanwar routes display the name and identity of the operator to preserve the sanctity of the pilgrimage. Similar orders were also issued in Uttarakhand and Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh. The Kanwar Yatra began on Monday, marking the first Monday of the month of Sawan.
