Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh was summoned to Delhi and reprimanded by the Congress brass over a controversial order issued by his department mandating food outlets across the State to display the name and address of their owners, which has however been withdrawn.
Facing flak by the party high command the Himachal Pradesh Government on Thursday said no such decision has been taken. The State Government in a statement said it has not taken any decision that makes it mandatory for street vendors to display nameplates or other identification at their stalls.
The development came as the Congress came under fire on social media as well as within the party over the move as it had criticised a similar move by the Uttar Pradesh Government during the Kanwar Yatra a few weeks back.
Sources said Vikramaditya has been asked not to give controversial remarks on this matter. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was upset with Vikramaditya. The Himachal Urban Development Ministry’s order came under criticism from Congress leader TS Singh Deo, who called it a reprehensible and discriminatory move.
BJP leader Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said Singh must stick to his words. “If Vikramaditya Singh has talked about implementing vendors’ policy on the pattern of Uttar Pradesh, he should stick to his words,” Thakur, who is Leader of the Opposition in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, said.
Last week, Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania constituted a seven-member committee headed by Industries Minister Harshwardhan Chauhan for the framing of a policy for ‘Street Vendors,’ according to a statement.
The decision to register outside workers with their identity came following massive protests weeks ago for the demolition of alleged unauthorised portions of a mosque in Sanjauli. Demonstrations were held across the state by Hindu outfits, who demanded workers coming from outside to work in Himachal Pradesh be registered.
Citing alleged incidents of spitting and mixing of urine in eatables, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had on Tuesday ordered operators, proprietors, and managers of food stalls to mandatorily display their names and addresses at their shops.
He also ordered that chefs and waiters must wear masks and gloves, and made mandatory that CCTV cameras be mounted in hotels and restaurants.
