All meat shops should be kept open during Kanwar Yatra. A case has been filed in the Allahabad High Court on this demand. A few days ago, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation issued a notice that all meat shops on the route of the Kanwar Yatra should be closed during the Yatra during the month of Shravan. Challenging the order, the National Democratic Party approached the High Court.
The political party of Uttar Pradesh claims that this order regarding the Kanwar Yatra is unconstitutional. Because Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution provides fundamental freedom to carry on any profession or business. Also, the fundamental right to live with dignity and freedom mentioned in Article 21 of this directive is also being violated. According to the petition filed in the Allahabad High Court, the Kanwar Yatra is an ancient tradition. Every year at the beginning of the month of Shravan, pilgrims carry water on foot in this yatra. But never in history was the butcher shop closed during the Kanwar Yatra.
It is to be noted that there has been a debate going on across the country for the last few days regarding the journey of Kanoa. Kanwar Yatra is going to start this month. Earlier, the Uttar Pradesh government had ordered that the name of the shop owner should be written in big banners on all the food shops along the route of the Kanwar Yatra. The main purpose of which is that pilgrims can distinguish between Hindu and Muslim shops. Not only in Uttar Pradesh, but the same directive has been issued in Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand as well. The main objective of this directive is to make the religious divide more clear, as alleged by the opposition.
The Supreme Court has stayed the controversial decision. On Monday, the Supreme Court granted an interim stay on the Kanwar issue. Also, notices have been sent to the states. The next hearing in this case will be held after four days. It may be noted that several petitions were filed in the Supreme Court opposing the Kanwar guidelines. Trinamool MP Mahua Maitra was also on the list of applicants.
