The streets of Muzaffarnagar are crowded with Kanwarias. File | Photo Credit: RV Moorthy
Seven years ago, Brijesh Pal, a daily bettor, was working on the side of the road dhaba in Khatauli Muzaffarnagar area for two months from Shravan to help Muslim owners manage the heavy footfall of customers, especially Kanwariyas. They will get ₹ 400-600 and at least two meals a day for the project.
However, this year his employer Mohammad Arsalan asked him to find another job as he could not hire additional employees, expecting his income to drop due to the Uttar Pradesh (UP) Government Order against hotel, restaurant, food owners. carts and restaurants along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the owner’s name on the shop.
After the Muzaffarnagar Police issued the order, the UP government on July 19 extended the controversial order across the state. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said similar instructions have been issued in his state as well.
The order has been controversial with opposition parties, civil society, and even some ruling alliance leaders criticizing it. “This is a good source of income because finding other jobs during this season is very difficult because construction and farm work don’t happen much in the monsoon season where I can get work as a laborer,” said Mr. Pal. PTI. “I’m involved dhaba a week ago, but now the landlord has asked me to find work elsewhere,” he said.
A small fruit seller and dhabas fear earnings will be severely hit by the move. Mr. Arsalan, the owner dhabasaid he was afraid that Kanwariyas would not eat at the place because of the Muslim name.
“Me dhaba his name is Baba ka Dhaba, like every third dhaba on this route. More than half of my employees are Hindus. We serve only vegetarian food here and even order to use garlic and onion Shravan (monsoon),” said Mr. Arsalan. “However, as the owner, I have to present my name. I also decided to change my name dhaba. I am afraid that Kanwariyas after seeing the Muslim name will not come and eat at my place,” he said.
With limited business, I cannot afford to hire additional staff this year,” he said. Shravan (monsoon) to collect water from the Ganges. The order will not only affect the income of Muslim owners and their staff, but also Muslim staff working in restaurants owned by Hindu owners.
Animesh Tyagi, who owns a roadside restaurant outside the main market in Khatauli, said, “There is a Muslim working at the tandoor in my restaurant. But because of this problem, I have asked him to leave. Because people can create problems. We don’t want such problems Mr. Tyagi said that he had called someone else, a Hindu, to work in the tandoor.
A few others dhaba owners also complained about the lack of specific directions in the Government Order how the name will be displayed in the store.
“The government has made an order but has not made anything specific. There are no guidelines on the size and font in which the owner’s name will be written,” said Deepak Pandit, who runs a tea stall in Kanwar Yatra. route in the district.
People have reached out to their local governments and elected representatives in their areas. Madan Bhaiya, Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) MLA from Khatauli constituency, said he has also received complaints from local restaurants affected by the new orders.
The RLD is currently an alliance partner of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. “It seems that the new order to put out the name was issued in a hurry. It is harming the poor daily wagers and small shopkeepers,” MLA said. He said he is coordinating with workers on the ground to help those affected. “Our ideology is against all forms of discrimination based on religion and caste,” he said.
Bhuwan Joshi, an official from the district unit of the Samajwadi Party said that the order was aimed at polarizing the people. “More than 240 km of the route taken by the Kanwariyas passes through Muzaffarnagar district. Thousands of small restaurants and food stalls are located on this route. This order will affect everyone who works there,” he said. “The order appears to be just an attempt to polarize society on the basis of religion at the direction of the State Government,” Mr. Joshi added.
Despite much criticism, the State Government has defended the order, saying there is no law and order situation and no confusion among the Kanwariyas. “The order is being carried out voluntarily,” the district police said.
