Bareilly's Maulana Tauqeer Raza supports the order to put up nameplates on shops along the Kanwar Yatra route. At the same time, he criticized the behavior of Kanwariyas and questioned the government's intentions.
UP News: An order has been issued in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Muzaffarnagar, to put up nameplates on shops, restaurants, and dhabas during the Kanwar Yatra. The government says this step will ensure that there is no religious disagreement or confusion on the yatra route. However, various reactions are emerging regarding this order.
Maulana Tauqeer Raza's Mixed Stance
Maulana Tauqeer Raza of Bareilly has given a straightforward reaction to this order. On the one hand, he supported the government's decision, saying that there should be no tampering in matters of faith. On the other hand, he said that the intention behind this order could also be to spread hatred. He also added that Muslims do not need to hide their identity.
Comments on Hindu and Muslim Identity
The Maulana said that just as Muslims are identified by their beards, caps, and attire, Hindus should also reveal their religious identity. He said that if someone is a true Sanatani, they should wear a tilak and proudly call themselves a Hindu. He called it a sign of equality and transparency.
'Nameplates are fine, but stripping pants is wrong'
Maulana Tauqeer Raza also bly reacted to the incident in Muzaffarnagar, in which a dhaba owner was forced to remove his pants to check his religious identity. He said that identifying by name is understandable, but such actions divide society and spoil the atmosphere. He called it domestic terrorism and said that there could be no greater threat to the country than this.
Questions raised by giving the example of a blood bank
The Maulana raised a question that when a Pandit or Thakur needs blood, it is not checked from the blood bank which religion the person's blood belongs to. He asked why nameplates are not put up at that time. His argument was that religion is not limited to just food or shops. If religion is to be linked to identity, then the same rules should be applied at every level.
Doubt on the government's intentions
The Maulana also said that questions arise about the government's intentions. He said that the government hates Muslims, and such orders reflect the same mentality. Yet, he reiterated that Muslims do not need to hide their identity. They should proudly show that they are Muslims and also true Indians.
