The Uttar Pradesh government has defended its directive requiring shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names, stating it aims to prevent accidental offenses to Kanwariyas' religious sentiments and ensure peace. This explanation was given in response to a Supreme Court inquiry.

The state government clarified that the order was issued following complaints from Kanwariyas about confusion caused by shop and eatery names. "Past incidents have shown that misunderstandings regarding the type of food being sold have led to tensions and disturbances. The directives are a proactive measure to avoid such situations," the statement read.

The government emphasized that the order does not ban any trade or business activity, except for restrictions on non-vegetarian food sales. Shopkeepers are free to conduct their business as usual, with the name display being an additional measure to enhance transparency and prevent confusion.

The Supreme Court was informed that even minor confusions related to food served to Kanwariyas could hurt religious sentiments and potentially cause flare-ups, especially in sensitive areas like Muzaffarnagar. The government stressed that the directive is non-discriminatory, applying uniformly to all food sellers along the Yatra route, regardless of their religious or community background.

The order aims to ensure public safety and order during the Kanwar Yatra, which sees large numbers of participants. Preventive measures are necessary to maintain a peaceful and harmonious pilgrimage, the state government argued.

On Monday, the Supreme Court issued an interim order halting the Kanwar Yatra 'nameplate' directive, allowing shop owners to display only the type of food served in their establishments. The bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti also issued notices to the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh regarding the directive. This follows a plea from the NGO Association for Protection of Civil Rights challenging the Uttar Pradesh government's order.

Last week, the Muzaffarnagar Police required all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of owners. This order was later made voluntary, but Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath mandated the 'nameplate' order statewide. Subsequently, the governments of Uttarakhand and the Ujjain administration in Madhya Pradesh implemented similar directives.