Days after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s mandated the shop owners along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their names on the shops, the US State Department on Wednesday (local time) reacted to the raging controversy and said that they are “aware of the happenings and is concerned about the right to freedom of religion and belief.” 

The reaction of the US State Department came after a Pakistani journalist raised the issue, alleging that the ruling BJP is "compelling Muslim restaurant owners to display their Muslim names at their establishments."

In response to the question, US State Department Spokesperson Mathhew Miller stated that the US has seen the reports that the Indian Supreme Court on July 22 issued an interim stay on the implementation of those rules. 

“We have seen those reports. We have also seen reports that the Indian Supreme Court on July 22 issued an interim stay on the implementation of those rules. So they're not actually in effect,” US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

“Speaking generally, we are, as we always say, committed to promoting and protecting universal respect for the right of freedom of religion and belief for all anywhere in the world,” he added.

India’s Supreme Court Stays Kanwariya Route Order

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners. This mandate came after the Muzaffarnagar Police issued a similar order ahead of the start of the Kanwar Yatra. However, the directive was revoked following opposition backlash. Other states including Uttarakhand also issued similar directives for some districts including Haridwar, mandating shop owners to display their names.

However, amid the backlash, the Supreme Court stayed the order requiring eateries on the Kanwar Yatra routes to display the names, addresses, and mobile numbers of their owners and staff. The Court clarified that the only requirement would be to display the type of food they are serving.