By Rajni Pandey | July 22, 2024
An annual pilgrimage during the Sawan month where Shiva devotees carry holy water from the Ganges in Haridwar to their homes, offering it at Shiva temples along the way.
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This year, the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments instructed eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display owners' names.
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Ujjain Municipal Corporation directed shop owners to display their names and mobile numbers outside their establishments. Fines were set for non-compliance.
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NGO and TMC MP Mahua Moitra challenged these state directives in the Supreme Court, arguing they could exacerbate communal tensions and sought a stay on the orders.
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Moitra's plea argued that such directives aggravate discord between communities, highlighting the potential for increased communal tensions.
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Justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti imposed an interim stay on the directives, stating food sellers can display food type but not names of owners or staff.
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The Supreme Court scheduled the matter for further hearing on July 26, 2024.
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The Supreme Court issued notices to the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, seeking their responses to the pleas challenging the directives.
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Ujjain Mayor Mukesh Tatwal emphasized that the directive aimed at safety and transparency, not targeting Muslim shopkeepers.
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States, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh, made extensive arrangements for the Kanwar Yatra to ensure the safety and convenience of the lakhs of Shiva devotees.
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