BHOPAL: A new directive requiring shopkeepers in Madhya Pradesh to display nameplates outside their establishments, as ordered by Hindutva priest Dhirendra Krishna Shastri, has ignited worries over potential anti-Muslim bias.
According to Kashmir Media Service, this requirement mirrors earlier actions in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which faced legal challenges and criticism for allegedly targeting Muslim business owners. The controversy led to intervention by the Supreme Court, which has temporarily halted the enforcement of similar mandates.
Shastri asserts that the directive aims to maintain clarity in business ownership in Bageshwar Dham, Chhatarpur, claiming that it is a measure against corruption of faith among devotees and not intended to single out any group. He emphasized strict compliance within 10 days, warning of legal repercussions for non-compliance by the dham committee.
Critics, however, argue that such policies might disproportionately affect Muslim shopkeepers and amplify communal tensions, questioning the true intent behind the push for transparency.