“Muzaffarnagar, India – Islah*, a Muslim, has been forced to close his restaurant along a highway in Khatauli town of Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district in northern India for nearly two weeks. Situated along a highway, the venue serves vegetarian food to people of all religions and can seat up to 100 people at a time. The district administration issued a controversial order earlier this month mandating restaurants and roadside vendors to prominently display the names of their owners and staff members. This move was intended to help Hindu devotees decide which food outlets to avoid during the holy month of Shravan, when pilgrims walk along the Ganges River to collect its holy water. Most devotees do not eat meat or fish during this time. Critics argue that the order was meant to discourage pilgrims from visiting eateries owned by Muslims.
Similar orders were issued by the police in neighbouring Uttarakhand, both states governed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The BJP has been accused of persecuting minority Muslims since coming to power in 2014, although the party denies these claims. In response to the order, Islah, the owner of the restaurant, has refused to display the names of his Muslim staff members, citing concerns for their safety and well-being. As outrage over the order grew, India’s Supreme Court temporarily blocked the move, ruling that while restaurants could declare the type of food they serve, they should not be forced to display the names of their owners.
The police order has led to discriminatory practices and harassment of Muslim-owned businesses, with reports of Muslim employees being fired or pressured to leave. The move reflects a larger pattern of targeting Muslim-owned establishments by some members of the BJP and other right-wing groups. The allegations have raised concerns about the communalisation of the police force and the infringement of fundamental rights of Muslim citizens.
Critics argue that such actions deepen prejudices and create division between communities, ultimately leading to the persecution of Muslims. As the controversy continues, activists and opposition politicians are calling for a re-evaluation of these discriminatory practices and a return to secular principles in governance.”