For the previous seven years, Brijesh Pal, a daily wager, helped his Muslim owner handle the high volume of patrons—primarily Kanwariyas—at a roadside dhaba in Muzaffarnagar’s Khatauli neighbourhood during the two months of Shravan.
For the job, he would receive between Rs 400 and Rs 600 along with two meals a day.
But this year, fearing that his earnings would be negatively impacted by the Uttar Pradesh government’s orders to owners of hotels, restaurants, food carts, and eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names at their outlets, his employer, Mohammad Arsalan, asked him to look for other jobs as he cannot afford to hire extra staff.
The controversial order was issued by the Muzaffarnagar Police, and on Friday the Uttar Pradesh government decided to implement it throughout the entire state. Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, stated that his state has previously implemented identical directives.
The order has become embroiled in controversy, drawing criticism from civil society, opposition parties, and even certain officials of the ruling alliance.
“It was a good source of income as finding other jobs in this season is very difficult because construction and farm work don’t happen much in the monsoon season where I could get a job as a labourer,” Pal stated to PTI.
“I joined the ‘dhaba’ a week ago but now the owner has asked me to look for work elsewhere,” he stated.
Dhabas and small fruit vendors worry that the change may negatively impact their revenue.
The dhaba’s proprietor, Arsalan, expressed his concern that Kanwariyas’ Muslim name will prevent him from dining at his establishment.
Like every other dhaba on this path, my dhaba is called Baba ka Dhaba. My staff comprises almost fifty percent Hindus. Here, we solely serve vegetarian cuisine, and during Shravan (monsoon), we even refrain from using garlic and onions.
“Even so, I had to show my name as the owner. I’ve also made the decision to rename the dhaba. “I worry that Kanwariyas won’t come eat at my place because they saw my name is Muslim,” he remarked.
I can’t afford to hire more personnel this year because my business is so small,” Arsalan said.
Every year during ‘Shravan’ (monsoon), thousands of followers of Shiva, known as Kanwariyas, go to Haridwar as part of the Kanwar Yatra in order to gather water from the Ganga.
The decree has affected Muslim employees who work in restaurants owned by Hindu proprietors as well as the revenues of Muslim owners and their employees.
Owner of a wayside restaurant in Khatauli, Animesh Tyagi, stated, “A Muslim man used to work on the tandoor at my restaurant.” The business is located just outside the main market. But I urged him to go because of this problem. because it may give rise to complaints. Such conflict is not what we want here.”
Tyagi claimed to have called a different man—this time a Hindu—to work at the tandoor.
A few other “dhaba” owners have voiced their displeasure with the government order’s lack of precise instructions regarding how the names should be posted at their establishments.
“The government has issued an order, although it contains no particular details. According to Deepak Pandit, who operates a tea stall along the Kanwar Yatra route in the district, there are no rules regarding the size and typeface of the owner’s name.
Individuals have even gone so far as to approach their local government and political officials.
The local restaurants that have been impacted by the current order have also complained to Madan Bhaiya, the RLD MLA from the Khatauli constituency.
Currently, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is in an alliance with Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD).
“It appears that the current directive to release names was given hastily. The poor everyday gamblers and small business owners are the ones most harmed, the MLA claimed.
He claimed that in order to assist people impacted, he is working with his employees in the area. “Our ideology is against any form of discrimination on the basis of religion and caste,” he stated.
According to Bhuwan Joshi, an office bearer for the Samajwadi Party’s district unit, the directive is intended to create division in society.
“Muzafarnagar district is traversed by a significant portion of the Kanwariyas’ route, which spans over 240 kilometres,” he stated. This route is lined with thousands of tiny eateries and food stands. Everyone who works there will be impacted by this directive.”
“The order sadly seems to just be an effort to polarise the society on the basis of religion on the direction of the state government,” Joshi stated.
The state administrations have defended the decision in the face of growing criticism, claiming it will prevent a situation where law and order is needed and prevent misunderstanding among Kanwariyas. The district police indicated that the order was being obeyed freely.