Pakistani Journalist Jahanzaib Ali
The obsession and relentless pursuit of Pakistani journalists to sow discord in the relationship between the United States and India is overwhelming, as demonstrated by a recent incident. During a press briefing at the White House, Pakistani journalist Jahanzaib Ali read a question from his office phone. Ali asked, “Indian media is reporting that in a few BJP-ruled states, the government is forcing Muslim restaurant owners to display their Muslim names at their eateries. Due to growing hate against Muslims, they fear this will cause more problems for them. What are your thoughts on such actions by any government?” The question was directed to State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.
Unfortunately, this narrative was not limited to Pakistani journalists but was also propagated by some Indian journalists like Saurabh Shukla and other communist and Islamist factions.
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We began our investigation by reviewing relevant media reports on the matter. We found an Amar Ujala report published on July 17, which stated, ‘To ensure the safe completion of the Kanwar Yatra, the SSP of Muzaffarnagar has ordered that the names of the proprietors and managers be displayed at the dhabas and hotels located along the Kanwar Yatra route.’
Additionally, The Economic Times reported on July 20, ‘The new directive, initially applied in Muzaffarnagar, has since been extended to Shamli and Saharanpur districts and now affects the entire Kanwar route. The order mandates that all establishments selling food display the names of their owners and employees, leading to widespread anxiety and economic impact.’
However, as the controversy intensified, the Muzaffarnagar police retracted their initial decision. But subsequently, CM Yogi issued an order to display the names of all eateries, including hotels, dhabas, and handcarts along the 240 km Kanwar Yatra route.
However, on July 22, the Honorable Supreme Court of India stayed the UP-government directive requiring the display of restaurant owners’ names along the Kanwar Yatra route. The court’s order also applies to other states, as police in Haridwar (Uttarakhand) and Ujjain (Madhya Pradesh) had issued similar directives. According to the Indian Express, several parties, including Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Mahua Moitra, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Delhi University Professor Apoorvanand, and former India head of Amnesty International Aakar Patel, challenged the directive on the grounds that it targeted Muslim-owned businesses by compelling individuals to reveal their religious identity.
Despite the Supreme Court ruling that eateries do not need to display their names but only the type of meal they are serving, The Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, explicitly states the mandatory requirement of displaying the FSSAI License/Registration Number at food premises. Usually, the FSSAI license number is not visible to consumers. To change consumer perception and strengthen food safety, FSSAI has introduced Food Safety Display Boards (FSDBs) for various food businesses. Henceforth, in addition to the existing mandatory requirement of displaying the FSSAI License/Registration Number, it will also be mandatory (in a phased manner) for Food Business Operators (FBOs) to display these Food Safety Display Boards at their premises.
In conclusion, the order issued by the UP government, followed by the Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments, requiring restaurants to display their names is not limited to Muslim restaurant owners but applies to all restaurant owners regardless of their religion. Pakistani journalist Jahanzaib Ali’s pursuit of pushing India’s internal affairs to the doorstep of the White House is not new; he has previously pushed agendas related to the CAA and Khalistani terrorist Gurupatwant Singh Pannun.
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