Viral Video: The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has just issued a directive that all shops must have nameplates, compulsorily, along the Kanwar route. This has caused quite a lot of controversy and public debate taken for the Kanwariyas—the holy water-carrying pilgrims to Shiva temples. As explained by officials, the idea behind this decision is to accord proper respect to the faith of pilgrims by distinctly naming those shops that sell fruits, rations, and other essentials to them.
UP Government’s Nameplate Directive
This directive, very soon, became a talking point on social media platforms. Whereas one section of the people welcomed it as a practical arrangement to allow the Kanwar Yatra, others were against it in toto, claiming it would precipitate further communal tension. Now, as different viewpoints came up in these online exchanges, the debate over this decision started to gain momentum with opinions going one way for considering it an administrative imperative and the other way as an action that could create communally hurtful situations.
Public and Social Media Reactions
In the midst of this heated debate, a video emerged that went viral and seemed to lend absolutely a new turn to the controversy. In this viral video, a shopkeeper from Uttar Pradesh is seen affixing a sticker that reads “Mohabbat Ki Dukan” (Shop of Love) instead of a traditional nameplate. This sticker carries the image of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the message, “No Hindu-Muslim.” The act struck a chord with many and has become a quick symbol for the broader discourse on communal harmony.
The video was shared by social media user Shakeel Akhtar and has gone quite viral, earning more than 30,000 views. As the video duly shows, it is about a fruit vendor, a mango seller, who would rather incorporate Rahul Gandhi’s election campaign slogan rather than adhere to the government’s dictum. The place where the video was shot in Uttar Pradesh is not known, but the message has gone much farther.
Rahul Gandhi’s Campaign
The “Mohabbat Ki Dukan” campaign was part of Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, opposing this politics of hatred with unity and love. He hit back through his campaign at what he and his followers feel is an increase in communal tensions and hatred, often instigated by mere political talk. It also gave out a different and more positive course, touting inclusivity and common humanity.
The sticker is reminiscent of a form of silent protest against the dictate of the government for a nameplate. By adopting Gandhi’s campaign logo, the shopkeeper not only refuses to accept the official dictate but aligns himself with a message of unity and resistance against all divisionary steps. This act of defiance has triggered a new wave of discussion on social media, further intensifying the debate over the Kanwar route nameplate policy.
The ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukan’ Movement Makes Waves
As the controversy refuses to die down, it underscores an even larger question of how governmental decisions are perceived and contested in a highly charged communal landscape. Government policies vis-à-vis grassroots responses, such as the “Mohabbat Ki Dukan” sticker, bring to the fore before us a continued tussle between the actions of the administration and public sentiment.
The controversy over the Kanwar route nameplate policy has taken an interesting turn with the rise of the “Mohabbat Ki Dukan” movement. That in some way reflects how political dictates fundamentally get mixed with civil resistance, leading to larger debates across society regarding issues like unity and communal harmony.
