UP Kunwar Yatra: NGOs run by Muslims cancel relief camps amid name plate controversy

Several NGOs run by the Muslim community in Uttar Pradesh will not set up their annual relief camps for kanwariyas this year. This comes amid controversy over name plates mandated outside businesses, reports TOI.

Relief camps were set up every year in which thousands of kunwariyas were served food, shelter, medical aid and even foot massages. Kunwariyas walk long distances along roads and highways.



Asif Rahi, president of Paigham-e-Insaniyat, announced the cancellation of their relief camp In Muzaffarnagar "with a heavy heart". His camp is one of the biggest and is usually held at the city centre in Meenakshi Chowk. It was meant for "upholding the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb" for the past 17 years. "What can we do? We want communal harmony but it seems they (local administration) only want to do politics," Rahi said to TOI.

Gohar Siddiqui, founder of Secular Front, decided to cancel his NGO's programmes for kanwariyas this year "due to new guidelines". Siddiqui told TOI, "Not just Muslims, Hindus are members of the Secular Front as well. We've been welcoming kanwariyas for 16 years - showering them with flowers and distributing fruits. There is a lot of unnecessary negativity this year. We need to get the administration's nod to serve kanwariyas. This is actually bizarre. "


Shadab Khan, founder of Awaz-e-Haq, also expressed uncertainty about his NGO's participation this year.