Order to display shop owners' names on Kanwar routes strengthens Yogi’s Hindutva image amid political turmoil

The BJP faced a setback in the recent Lok Sabha elections due to the fragmentation of the Hindu vote bank.

After nearly 18 years, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has rigorously implemented the law requiring shop and business owners to display their names prominently. This move has achieved dual objectives: proving the law's enforceability and affirming his commitment to the Hindutva agenda.

The BJP claims that the order was first issued in 2006 when Mulayam Singh Yadav and later Mayawati were Chief Ministers of UP, and the Congress-led UPA government was in power at the Centre. According to the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, the FSS Regulation mandates displaying the FSSAI License/Registration Number at food premises.

In the present context, initially confined to the Muzaffarnagar district, the order has been extended statewide under the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. He announced that all food and beverage shops along Kanwar routes in Uttar Pradesh must display the names and identities of their owners to maintain the sanctity of the pilgrims' faith, promising strict action against those selling halal-certified products.

Opposition criticised the decision while the BJP leaders and its allies supported it.

"Terror on the Kanwar routes of UP, this is the reality of hatred towards Indian Muslims. The credit for this hatred goes to political parties / Hindu leaders and so-called secular parties," said AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi in his post on X.

As the debate rages on, the government stands firm on its decision, asserting that the mandate aims to bring order and transparency to the bustling Kanwar routes.

Despite the political furore, the fruit sellers on the Muzaffarngar Kawar route have started complying with the order. Shahzad, a fruit seller operating from a roadside cart has prominently displayed a sign that read, "Shahzad the Fruit Seller." When asked as to why he had put it up, Shahzad said, "The police came and told him to write his name on a board and put it on the cart. The police said we shouldn't sell fruits without it".

Arif, another fruit seller, shared a similar experience, saying, "Policemen came to him too. They asked me to put up a poster with our full details on it. They didn't explain why we needed to do this".

Faiz Alam, who runs a paan shop, says he is feeling the pressure from the administration to comply with the new mandate.

Political ploy

The BJP faced a setback in the recent Lok Sabha elections due to the fragmentation of the Hindu vote bank. The opposition has capitalised on this, suggesting that the BJP's Hindutva agenda is losing its edge. They have also attempted to portray CM Yogi Adityanath's robust Hindutva stance as diminishing in effectiveness.

Internal blame games have erupted within the BJP in the wake of the election defeat. Some factions have criticised the government's performance, while others have questioned its operational strategies. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and State President Bhupendra Chaudhary's visit to Delhi was perceived by some as an attempt to undermine CM Yogi.

However, the BJP's top leadership quashed these rumors, emphasizing that the defeat was due to lapses at both governmental and organisational levels. The Sangh Parivar has also voiced its support for Yogi.

Despite internal strife, the opposition saw an opportunity to weaken Yogi's image as a Hindutva proponent. Nevertheless, the BJP's top brass has reaffirmed Yogi's status as a prominent Hindutva figure. This endorsement is believed to have spurred Yogi to enforce the shop name law along the Kanwar route from Meerut to Haridwar, reinforcing his Hindutva credentials.

Boosting polarisation ahead of by-elections:

Ahead of the upcoming elections for 10 state assembly seats, the Yogi government aims to strengthen voter polarisation with this decision. Ghaziabad, Kundarki, and Meerapur, which are affected by the Kanwar Yatra, are among these constituencies. The government hopes that this move will consolidate Hindu voters, potentially benefiting the BJP. Currently, Ghaziabad is held by the BJP, Meerapur by the RLD, and Kundarki by the SP.

The demand for displaying shopkeepers' names originated from Swami Yashveer Maharaj, director of Yashveer Ashram Baghra, who met with officials and SSP Abhishek Singh. Minister of State for Skill Development Kapil Dev Agarwal also raised this issue.

The month of Sawan, starting on July 22 marks the beginning of the Kanwar Yatra. During this period, Kanwariyas from across North India and other states undertake a pilgrimage to collect Gangajal for Jalabhishek of Mahadev, making the display of names a contentious issue as the pilgrimage approaches.