'Crime against statute'

UP govt directive divides on basis of caste, religion, displays poor understanding of Lord Shiva: Vadra

- Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday criticised the directive from the Uttar Pradesh government to all the cart, kiosk and shopowners to display their names as “divisive” and claimed it was a crime against the Constitution.

The order was issued to establishments along the kanwaria yatra route by the state administration so the kanwarias could know the caste and religion of the people they were making their purchases from.

Lashing out at the state government for issuing such a “divisive order”, Vadra wrote on X, “Our Constitution guarantees every citizen that he will not be discriminated against on the basis of caste, religion, language or any other basis. The divisive order to put up name boards of the owners of carts, kiosks and shops in Uttar Pradesh is an attack on our Constitution, our democracy and our shared heritage.”

She added, “Creating division in society on the basis of caste and religion is a crime against the Constitution.”