Controversy Over Alleged Religious Profiling on Kanwar Yatra Route

Moradabad, July 2 (PTI): Former Samajwadi Party MP S T Hasan has strongly criticized the alleged religious profiling of eatery owners along the Kanwar Yatra route in Uttarakhand by certain Hindu groups, describing it as a "form of terrorism". Reports have emerged of these groups allegedly checking the identities of eatery owners and staff, allegedly targeting Muslims in multiple cities in Uttarakhand. Purported videos on social media have shown volunteers allegedly coercing individuals to disclose their religious identities.

The BJP has responded by accusing the opposition of engaging in religious appeasement but emphasized that no one should take the law into their own hands. Hasan, from Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad, stated to PTI, "Forcing hotel staff and vendors to reveal their names and making them undress to identify their religion is akin to what terrorists did in Pahalgam. This is another form of terrorism." He alleged that these incidents occur in plain sight while the BJP-led Uttarakhand government turns a blind eye.

"It seems the state government is silently condoning these acts. Such behavior is disgraceful in a secular country like India. It must be stopped," Hasan argued. He urged the central and state governments to take immediate action to prevent these "communal practices".

In response to Hasan's comments, BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi remarked, "While taking the law into one's own hands is wrong, equating these actions with the Pahalgam terrorists is highly objectionable. In Pahalgam, terrorists killed after confirming identities... Requesting identity to ensure pure vegetarian food during Sawan cannot be compared to terrorism. The Samajwadi Party will go to any extent for religious appeasement," he commented.

The Uttarakhand government has stipulated that eateries, including food carts on the Kanwar Yatra route, must visibly display their food licenses or registration certificates. Additionally, in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, police have summoned various activists linked to Swami Yashveer Maharaj regarding unauthorized identity checks of eatery owners along the Kanwar Yatra route, officials reported.

The Kanwar Yatra is an annual Hindu pilgrimage that occurs in the Shravan month, drawing thousands of devotees.

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