Upon entering Muzaffarnagar town, the cacophony of DJs and the sight of saffron-clad men (kanwariyas) greet visitors. Many non-vegetarian shops and restaurants along the main thoroughfare are either closed or deserted, as locals avoid the area following the Uttar Pradesh government’s controversial order requiring shop owners to display their names. This order, seen by the opposition and civil society as “brazenly discriminatory,” aimed to target a specific community, prompting the Supreme Court to block it.
This politically motivated directive has angered both communities in Muzaffarnagar, disrupting the peaceful coexistence and intertwined business interests they have long enjoyed.
Muslim store owners told Radiance they felt pressured by the police to comply. Mohammad QamarAlam, a dairy and sweets shop owner on the KanwarYatra route, recounted how policemen instructed him on July 15 to display his name on the signboard of his shop, Anmol Drinks. Despite the order, Alam noted that Kanwaryias continue to visit his shop.
“This is the first time shop owners have been asked to display their names,” said Yaqoob, a bakery vendor. “Even with nameplates, how can you prevent customers from coming in? We followed the administration’s instructions without objection,” he added, emphasizing that businesses rely on both Muslim and Hindu customers.
Fazal Ahmad, whose shop is across from Anmol Drinks, echoed Yaqoob’s concerns, calling the order strange and potentially divisive. He warned that it could create rifts between communities that have always coexisted peacefully.
During a visit, this correspondent encountered Abhishek, a young Kanwaryia from Delhi, at a local shop. Abhishek expressed indifference about the religious identity of shop owners, stating it did not affect his purchasing decisions. Devish, another Kanwaryia from Haryana, agreed, noting that Muslims in the area treat them well and they frequently buy from Muslim-owned shops.
Shahid, a long-time tea shop owner along the KanwarYatra path, shared that despite his shop already having a sign with his father’s name, the administration insisted on a new one. He stated, “Every year, we serve the Kanwariyas without discrimination. They call me Shahid Bhai when they visit.”
In Khalapar market, many store owners have complied by adding nameplates. Fruit vendor Arif, for instance, displayed his name on his cart as instructed by the police. Arif, who has been in the fruit business for ten years, found the directive unprecedented, noting that it was specifically for the KanwarYatra period.
Even Muslim-owned vegetarian hotels were not exempt. Salim Ahmad, owner of a vegetarian hotel, had to add his name to his signboard. Salim reported an increase in customers, quipping that the identification might have helped attract more visitors. He plans to revert to the old sign after the Yatra ends on August 2.
The BJP-led UP government’s policy has severely impacted non-vegetarian hoteliers and meat vendors. Since July 22, the start of the KanwarYatra, all meat shops have been ordered closed, resulting in significant economic hardship. Nafees Ahmad, owner of Karim Hotel, which is known for its non-vegetarian cuisine, highlighted the plight of hundreds of workers who have lost their livelihood.
Alauddin, another meat seller, criticized the BJP government’s efforts to communalize the yatra, contrasting it with previous administrations that imposed only temporary bans. He pointed out that obtaining new licenses or renewing old ones for meat shops has become increasingly difficult.
The annual KanwarYatra, during which devotees of the Hindu god Shiva travel to collect holy Ganges water, has traditionally been a time of cooperation between communities. However, the recent directive from the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office, which mandated nameplates on food shops and threatened action against those selling Halal-certified products, has been met with widespread criticism. Opposition parties and civil society groups likened the order to Nazi Germany’s persecution of Jews.
Despite the Supreme Court’s intervention, the directive has left a mark on the community, highlighting the tensions between maintaining tradition and ensuring communal harmony.