Political and religious tension has intensified even before the commencement of Kavad Yatra in Uttar Pradesh. The strict rules that the BJP government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had implemented the strict rules regarding travel routes in 2024 is now being repeated in 2025 as well. The government has taken many strict steps with the aim of cleanliness, protecting the faith of devotees and preventing adulteration in food items, but now the dispute over these orders is also deepening.
This process started in 2024
On 18 July 2024, the Chief Minister’s Office issued an order, stating that it would be mandatory for shopkeepers to sell name plates at every shop selling food and drink on the Kawad Yatra routes. The shopkeeper’s name, address and mobile number should be clearly written on this plate.
The government said that this would maintain the sanctity of faith and will prevent any kind of illegal activities, such as confusion or adulteration in food items. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had made it clear that if a shopkeeper was found selling products with halal certificate, strict action would be taken against him.
Question on Supreme Court’s stay and privacy
This order of the government was challenged in the Supreme Court. On 22 July 2024, the court imposed an interim stay on this order. The court commented that shopkeepers can only showcase the nature of food served in their restaurant and not their personal information.
The court asked the governments of Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh why it is necessary to make the personal information of shopkeepers public? The Supreme Court had expressed serious concern by linking this order with the right to privacy.
New order came again, Supreme Court ignored
Nearly two months after the Supreme Court’s stay, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath issued another order on 24 September 2024. This time, it was made mandatory to write the names and addresses of owners, managers and employees in all restaurants and hotels across the state. It was also said in the order that the policy of ‘zero tolerance’ will be adopted on cases of adulteration of food items.
Also, it was made mandatory to install CCTV cameras in every corner in all restaurants and hotels. Chefs and waiters will have to wear masks and gloves and police verification of all employees will also be done.
Yogi Adityanath had said that the incidents of dirt or adulteration in foods like pulses, juices and roti have come to light in many states, but such incidents in Uttar Pradesh will not be tolerated at all.
He asked the officials to send a proposal to amend the Food Safety and Standards Act to the Central Government, so that the strict action can be taken against the culprits.
The same strictness again in 2025, ban on meat in the open
Another order was issued on 25 June 2025, stating that before the Kavad Yatra starting from July 11, all the Kawad routes would be completely banned from selling meat in the open. Also, every shopkeeper will have to write his name, address and mobile numbers.
The order also stated that the entry of banned animals on the travel route will be completely stopped. Apart from this, the prices of food items will be fixed, so that there is no arbitrary recovery from the devotees.
This is not the first time that the Yogi government has shown strictness during the Kandar Yatra. The sale of meat and alcohol was banned in July 2022, banning the opening of meat in 2023, and in 2024, a disputed order of the name plate came. Now before the journey in 2025, the government has again shown old attitude. However, no major political statement has been revealed on this yet, but as the date of the journey comes closer, the reactions may intensify.
Muslim League opposition and political conflict
At the same time, the Indian Union Muslim League has accused the Yogi government of running anti -Muslim agenda. The party’s national vice president Maulana Kausar Hayat Khan said, “Those who leave on the Kandar Yatra eat more meat than us.” He accused the government of targeting Muslims under the guise of religious events.
He also said that objections are raised to reading Namaz, but public places are closed in the name of Kandar Yatra. Maulana questioned that when the liquor is the most ruined by drinking, then why are liquor shops not closed? Why are meat shops being targeted only?
He alleged that the government was running a parallel Hindu organization -based administration. He said that no Hindu organization has the right to check identity cards, yet they are openly doing this, and there is no action on them. He warned that when this government does not remain, then such organizations will not dare to do such an act.
Apart from this, Maulana Sajid Rashidi, president of All India Imam Association, also questioned such rules, saying, “First the UP government, then the Delhi government and now the Uttarakhand government have also issued similar orders. In these orders, the shops in the way of Kavad Yatra will have to give their name, identity cards and keep them closed. It is a very strange and disturbing situation.”
Maulana Rashidi further said, “Threatening to close shops and fining for 10-15 days causes a great problem. What is this justice? Our constitution is secular and our governments are secular. The constitution of our country is secular. The official is secular and takes an oath to maintain secularism and not discriminate against anyone. of…”
Police preparations and security arrangements
Along with the strictness of the government, the police administration has also made strong arrangements for the Kandar Yatra. Special preparations have been made in four major districts like Meerut, Baghpat, Hapur and Bulandshahr. A total of 57 zones and 155 sectors have been built and around 15,000 policemen will be deployed. There will be 119 barriers and 10 toll points on the 540 km long journey route.
During the yatra, Ganga water will be given from Haridwar on every police post and checkpost when any Kanwaria is broken. A team of ATS and STFs will also be deployed at major temples for security. The administration is fully cautious to make the journey peaceful and organized.
