National News: The VHP has launched a sticker campaign during the Kanwar Yatra in Delhi. These stickers are given to shops that sell only pure vegetarian food. The aim is to help devotees find Sanatani shops that follow Hindu values. Delhi MCD has said it cannot shut down meat shops, so VHP is using stickers instead. Many Kanwariyas prefer to eat at shops during their journey from Haridwar. The campaign is voluntary, and shopkeepers must confirm they follow these rules. This drive is being seen as a religious effort to keep the Yatra pure.
1. Pure food for Kanwadis
VHP has started putting special stickers on the shops on the routes of Kanwar Yatra in Delhi. These stickers say "Garv Se Kaho Hum Hindu Hai" and "Sanatani Vyapar Sansthan." This means that only pure vegetarian food will be available at these shops. VHP says that Kanwar pilgrims undertake a very difficult and religious journey. Therefore, they should get food that is according to the values of Sanatan Dharma. Many devotees buy food items from these shops, so it is important to give them correct information.
2. Dispute over meat shops
A few days ago, a minister had said that meat shops on the routes of the Yatra will remain closed. But the MCD said that they do not have the authority to give such an order. Now the VHP has adopted another method—just certify those shops that are purely vegetarian. This will let people know which shop is selling food according to religion. This method seems to be an initiative related to society rather than administration.
3. Minority shops were left out
Some ground workers of VHP said that the shops that are getting stickers do not include shops of certain communities. That is, those who belong to the minority community have been kept out of this campaign. However, no clear answer was given by VHP on this. But questions are being raised about whether this initiative is really religious or if there is some other motive behind it.
4. A promise is being taken from the shopkeepers.
VHP state general secretary Surendra Gupta said that “voluntary certification” is being taken from the shopkeepers. This means that only if they themselves say that their shop is pure will they get the sticker. VHP teams have been formed in 30 districts, and stickers have been put on about 5,000 shops. The food of every shop was checked, and then the sticker was put. This will assure the Kanwariyas that they will get the right things.
5. Buy from shops instead of camps
Most of the Kanwariyas eat food in the camps set up during the yatra. But many people also buy things from the shops on the way. VHP says that if these shops are clean and have stickers on them, then the devotees will not face any problem. Especially when they do not even keep water on the ground, then the food should also be completely pure.
6. Started in Delhi, will grow further
Right now this sticker campaign has started in Delhi, but it will be expanded to other cities as well. VHP said that even after the yatra is over, a list will be made of the shops that have stickers. Later they will also be given a proper certificate. That means this can become a permanent plan.
7. The journey will continue till July 23
This time the Kanwar Yatra will end on 23rd July. Devotees come to Delhi and nearby states with Gangajal from Haridwar. It has just begun, but in a few days a large number of Kanwariyas will reach Delhi. In such a situation, this initiative of VHP can be intensified so that no one has any confusion about where it is safe to eat.
