Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh Government has told the Supreme Court that the nameplate directive was issued to ensure a peaceful completion of the Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage. The state Government said that the idea behind issuing the directive was to strengthen transparency and informed choice of the pilgrims regarding the food they eat during the period of the Yatra, keeping in mind their religious sentiments.
“Even small confusions regarding the kind of food they (Kanwariyas) are served, has the potential to hurt their religious sentiments and cause flare-ups, especially in a communally sensitive area like Muzaffarnagar,” said the affidavit sworn by Saharanpur’s Divisional Commissioner. It added that the directive, limited to the route of the Kanwar Yatra for a period of less than two weeks, was issued solely in the interest of ensuring a peaceful completion of the Kanwar Yatra, in which more than 4.07 crore of Kanwariyas participate annually. It further said, “The temporary nature of the directives ensures that they do not inflict any permanent discrimination or hardship on the food sellers.”
