'Hurried decision': NDA ally Jayant too slams kanwar route name display order

MUZAFFARNAGAR/AGRA: Amid the ongoing controversy over naming business establishments along the kanwar route in UP and Uttarakhand, RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary, whose party is part of the NDA govt, criticised the directive saying, "Kanwariyas never see the caste and religion of those who do 'sewa' (service) and bless them without knowing their names. Likewise, those who serve the kanwariyas do the same thing. It should not be linked to religion."

The UP-based Jat leader is the second Union minister after Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan to criticise the Yogi govt order.

Chaudhary added: "Names and brands can vary. What will McDonald's write? What will Burger King on the kanwar route write? These old brands have multiple owners." When asked if he had discussed the matter with any NDA partner, Chaudhary responded, "I believe this decision was not made with much consideration and taken in a hurry. There is still time for govt to roll it back or not emphasise it too much..."

Chaudhary, who was on a visit to Muzaffarnagar on Sunday, said, "The important thing is about vegetarian and non-vegetarian distinctions, which makes sense. If someone is a vegetarian, it should be certified that all ingredients and the process of making it are vegetarian. But whose hands make it, what does it matter? Many Muslims are vegetarians, and many Hindus eat meat."

He was informed by a few locals that some roadside tyre puncture shop owners were also asked to display their names and phone numbers. He retorted: "Where should people write names? Should they start writing their names on their 'kurta' too, so that, after seeing that, people would greet each other?"


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