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The Ujjain Municipal Corporation has mandated that all shop owners in the city display their names and mobile numbers outside their establishments. This directive comes amidst a wave of similar orders issued by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Uttar Pradesh for eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route, which has triggered significant criticism from the Opposition and even some of the BJP's allies.
The Ujjain Mayor, Mukesh Tatwal, has justified the order, claiming that it is rooted in the Madhya Pradesh Shop Establishment Act or Gumasta License and is primarily intended to enhance customer safety. He asserts that knowing the shopkeeper's details allows customers to seek redress in case of dissatisfaction or fraudulent activities. The implementation of the order has been delayed due to initial stipulations regarding the size and color of the nameplates, but these requirements have now been relaxed.
The controversial directive in Uttar Pradesh, which mandated eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners and employees, was met with accusations of targeting Muslim traders. While the order itself made no explicit mention of religion, Opposition leaders and activists alleged that it was a thinly veiled attempt to single out Muslim food vendors. Even some of the BJP's allies, such as the Janata Dal (United) and the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas (LJP-RV), criticized the move as discriminatory.
The Ujjain order, while echoing the sentiment of the Uttar Pradesh directive, seems to be primarily focused on customer safety and transparency. However, the backdrop of the controversy surrounding the Uttar Pradesh order is likely to cast a shadow over the implementation of the Ujjain directive, with some potentially viewing it as a veiled attempt to target a specific community.
Source: Amid UP Kanwar order row, Ujjain civic body asks shopkeepers to display names