‘If Ramdev has no problem, then why should Rahman’: Yoga guru supports UP Kanwar…

NEW DELHI: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Sunday reacted to the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to mandate shopkeepers along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names, saying that that there should be no issue in revealing one’s identity while everyone should be proud of their name and religion, with the purity of one’s work being what truly matters.
“If Ramdev has no problem in revealing his identity, then why should Rahman have a problem in revealing his identity? Everyone should be proud of their name,” he told media.
“There is no need to hide the name, only purity is required in work. If our work is pure, it does not matter if we are Hindu, Muslim or from any other community…,” Baba Ramdev said.
On July 19, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath issued an order requiring all restaurants along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners outside their establishments, aimed at protecting the interests and sanctity of the religious pilgrims.
This decision followed an earlier directive from the Muzaffarnagar police, which was issued for the entire district but faced opposition and was subsequently withdrawn. However, days after the initial directive, the administration extended the requirement to other shops along the Kanwar Yatra route to prevent any “confusion.”
Taking the cues from Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh governments, the Ujjain municipal body also mandated that shopkeepers display their names. On July 20, Ujjain Mayor Mukesh Tatwal announced that violators would be fined Rs 2,000 for the first offence and Rs 5,000 for subsequent violations.
“Ujjain is a religious and holy city. People come here with religious aastha (faith). They have the right to know about the shopkeeper whose services they are availing. If a customer is dissatisfied or cheated, knowing the shopkeeper’s details allows them to seek redress,” he said.
However, several Opposition leaders have voiced their opposition to the Kanwar order. Asaduddin Owaisi, president of the All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), saidthat the order reflects increasing hostility towards Muslims in India. He attributed this growing animosity to political parties, Hindutva leaders, and secular parties.
“Fear on UP’s Kanwar routes: This is The reality of hatred for Indian Muslims, credit for this visceral hatred goes to political parties, leaders of Hindutva and so-called lip servicing Secular parties,” Owaisi said
Brinda Karat of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) criticised the Yogi Adityanath government, claiming that the order undermines the Indian Constitution and humiliates an entire community.
“They are trying to divide society…This type of targeting was done by Nazis in Germany…I condemn it,” she said.
Sanjay Raut, MP from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), accused the BJP of sowing division within the country by directing food stalls to display nameplates based on caste and religion.
“Now you (BJP) are directing food stalls to put up nameplates based on caste and religion? Do you want to divide the country? You won’t profit from it. You are breaking the nation’s unity,” Raut said.