Priyanka Gandhi slams kanwar yatra order, calls it an "Attack on Constitution"

The police order to display the names of eatery owners along the Kanwar Yatra route in Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, has drawn sharp criticism from Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. She described the directive as unconstitutional and demanded its immediate withdrawal. "Creating division in society on the basis of caste and religion is a crime against the Constitution. This order should be withdrawn immediately and strict action should be taken against the officials who issued it," read her post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The police had instructed that all food joints prominently display the owner's name to avoid confusion during the religious procession. Priyanka Gandhi emphasized, "Our Constitution guarantees every citizen that he will not be discriminated against on the basis of caste, religion, language, or any other basis. The divisive order to put up name boards of the owners of carts, kiosks, and shops in Uttar Pradesh is an attack on our Constitution, our democracy, and our shared heritage." The order, intended to facilitate devotees and prevent law and order issues, has been criticized by various political figures, including AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who claimed it targets Muslim-owned shops.