Mahadangal: Kanwar Yatra Preparations Marred by Communal Tensions Over Nameplates | ABP NEWS

As the holy month of Saavan approaches, the Kanwar Yatra is set to begin, but a renewed controversy over nameplate rules for food stalls along the pilgrimage route has ignited sharp political and communal reactions. The Uttar Pradesh government issued a directive requiring eateries on the 'Kamal Route' to display shop names and ban open sale of non-vegetarian food. Uttarakhand has also issued a similar order. Last week, tensions flared when Swami Yashvir from a yoga ashram allegedly led a team into a Muzaffarnagar dhaba and misbehaved with a staff member during an identity check. Critics claim this campaign is being executed not by government authorities but by vigilante groups. During a recent Mahadangal debate on ABP News, Samajwadi Party leader Anurag Bhadouria questioned, “Is asking someone’s name now considered anti-terrorism?” He stressed that only government officials—not private groups—should conduct inspections. RLD MP Malook Nagar added that Muslims in Uttarakhand have voluntarily displayed nameplates and served Kanwariyas for years. “Why target them now?” he asked. As the Kanwar Yatra nears, the clash between religious faith, constitutional law, and identity politics deepens, raising serious concerns about communal harmony and governance.

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