'UP Govt's New Kanwar Yatra Order Has Cleared Confusion, Faith Should Be Respected': Naqvi to News18

After hitting out at the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision the previous day about ordering shopkeepers, street vendors, and restaurants on the Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar to put up nameplates of owners, Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi softened his stance on Friday. Naqvi said there was confusion on Thursday with the limited order of the UP government for Muzaffarnagar but it had now been cleared by detailed directives.

“The confusion erupted due to the limited administrative guidelines. I am glad that the state government has cleared any communal misunderstandings. As far as names are concerned, the Yogi government has not directed any religious group. This order applies to all shopkeepers. During the Kanwar Yatra, devotees avoid consuming certain foods. Hence, their faith should be respected. I have personally participated in the Kanwar Yatra,” Naqvi told CNN-news18.

The former Rajya Sabha member had surprised many in the BJP and opposition with his critical stand on the Yogi Adityanath government’s decision as he is known to stay out of controversies. Only back in 2014, he had protested when the-then expelled Janata Dal (United) leader Sabir Ali, whom Naqvi called a friend of terrorist Yasin Bhatkal, joined the BJP. He had mockingly said that gangster-terrorist Dawood Ibrahim could be the next entrant into the BJP. But at that time, he was backed by the RSS, the BJP’s ideological mentor, on his remark.

On Thursday, Naqvi posted on social media site X: “Kuch ati utsahi adhikariyon ke aadesh hadbadi mein gadbadi wali asprishyata ki bimari ko badhawa de sakte hain. Astha ka samman hona chahiye, par asprishyata ka sanrakshan nahi hona chahiye (The hasty orders of some over-excited officials can create problems. It may spread the malaise of untouchability. Faith must be respected, but untouchability must not be encouraged).”

However, the BJP leader received a lot of flak on social media and responded by sharing a photo of himself participating in Kanwar Yatra in the past. He wrote, “Hey trolls…Do not distribute certificates of respect and faith of the Kanwar Yatra to me. I have always believed that no faith should be a hostage to intolerance or untouchability.” The old photo showed him carrying a Kanwar on his shoulder. The annual pilgrimage by Lord Shiva devotees will begin on July 22 this year.

On Friday, the Uttar Pradesh government issued an order asking for nameplates on all food shops along Kanwar Yatra routes across Uttar Pradesh, not just in Muzaffarnagar. The names of the owners or operators must be displayed. The order has intensified the issue, with opposition parties protesting in various places.

In fact, BJP allies Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Lok Dal had also said that the order should be withdrawn as it may cause communal tensions and there should not be any discrimination based on religion or caste.