The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has clarified that it has not issued any instructions requiring shop owners to display their names along the Kanwar Yatra route in the state, asserting there is no such compulsion.
Confusion arose following a directive in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar, mandating eateries to display owners’ names, a move criticized as targeting Muslim traders. The MP government urged urban bodies to avoid spreading confusion, stating no state-level directive compels shop owners to display their names.
The Urban Development and Housing Department clarified this position days after Ujjain’s mayor cited an old, purported decision directing shop owners to display names and phone numbers. The statement emphasized that boards can be put up under the Madhya Pradesh Outdoor Advertisement Media Rules, 2017, without naming owners. BJP MLA Ramesh Mendola supported the voluntary display of names, emphasizing personal pride and customer rights.
