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Kanwar Yatra 2025: UP Government Ensures Compliance with Shop License Rules Amid Religion-Based Screening

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Amidst the forthcoming Kanwar Yatra 2025, the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh is taking steps to ensure that shops along the pilgrimage route display their owners' names and operate with valid licenses. The move comes as Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers in Meerut have been scanning UPI QR codes at restaurants, dhabas, and eateries to verify the religion of shopkeepers, sparking controversy. As the yatra begins on July 11, officials are visiting shops to verify the authenticity of nameplates and check for non-vegetarian food, adding to the debate over the display of nameplates and the targeting of non-Hindu shopkeepers.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Uttar Pradesh government has made it mandatory for all shops along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the owner's original name and have proper licenses.
  • In 2024, the Supreme Court paused the Uttar Pradesh government's directive requiring shopkeepers to display their names, but the rule is still being enforced in 2025.
  • Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) workers in Meerut are scanning UPI QR codes to verify the religion of shopkeepers and have been pasting images of Varaha on shops and installing saffron flags.
  • Officials are visiting shops to verify whether the names on the signboards match the identity of the owners and to check if non-vegetarian food is being served.
  • The Yatra is scheduled to begin on July 11, and the UP government is ensuring compliance with shop license rules to facilitate the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
  • The move has sparked controversy, with some shopkeepers expressing concerns over the targeting of non-Hindu shopkeepers.

Statistics:

  • The Kanwar Yatra is scheduled to begin on July 11, 2025.
  • In 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government's directive requiring shopkeepers to display their names reached the Supreme Court, which paused the rule.
  • The Yogi Adityanath-led UP government has made it mandatory for all shops along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the owner's original name and have proper licenses.

Sources:

  • Indian National Press (Bombay) Pvt. Ltd.
  • Contify.com

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