Owaisi Condemns Aadhaar Checks at 100+ UP Eateries Before Kanwar Yatra, Calls ‘Pant Utaro’ Orders Shameful
Owaisi condemns Aadhaar checks at over 100 UP eateries before the Kanwar Yatra, calling the ‘Pant Utaro’ order shameful and a violation of civil rights.
Owaisi Condemns Vigilante Harassment During Kanwar Yatra—Questions UP Government’s Legitimacy
Amid growing national concern over rising instances of mob surveillance and vigilante harassment in the name of religious scrutiny, AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi has launched a scathing critique of the Uttar Pradesh administration. His remarks come in response to disturbing reports emerging from Muzaffarnagar, where members of self-styled vigilante groups have allegedly forced eatery workers and hotel staff to “prove” their religion—some reportedly by removing their pants—during the Kanwar Yatra.
In his statement, Owaisi demanded to know why state authorities were allowing these groups to function as “a parallel government,” openly entering private businesses, interrogating staff, and disregarding legal boundaries set by the judiciary. He referenced a 2023 Supreme Court interim order which had prohibited such practices, particularly the forced display of owner names on business signboards along religious routes, calling the continuation of these actions a blatant contempt of court.
“There are hotels in those villages that have been operating peacefully for years,” Owaisi said during a press conference. “Why is it that 10–11 years ago, there were no such incidents, and now people are being pulled out, asked for Aadhaar cards, and even forced to strip if they fail to show one? Who are these vigilantes? Is the government running the state, or have these groups taken over?”
Referring to the group allegedly behind the incidents—the Bharatiya Sanatan Suraksha Dal—Owaisi called for immediate government action to stop their operations. The group, reportedly affiliated with controversial seer Swamy Yashveer Maharaj, has been accused of specifically targeting establishments owned by members of minority communities.
The Mechanics of Vigilantism—A Deepening Crisis in Religious Policing
The reports from Muzaffarnagar have ignited fresh debates over the role of the state and the emergence of non-state actors in law enforcement-like roles. According to multiple eyewitness accounts and video footage circulating on social media, members of the vigilante group entered eateries and roadside establishments near Baghonwali, Sarwat, and Bajheri—localities around the Muzaffarnagar bypass—and demanded Aadhaar cards from business owners and employees. When identification was not produced, some individuals were allegedly forced to remove their pants in an attempt to “prove” their religious affiliation.
“This filth must stop,” Owaisi declared, highlighting the deeply humiliating nature of these acts. “If the police won’t act, these people will keep behaving like they’re the superior government. Our demand is simple: follow the rule of law.”
The disturbing pattern suggests a systemic targeting of Muslim-run businesses during a time when communal sentiments are high due to religious pilgrimages like the Kanwar Yatra. Many of these businesses have operated peacefully for decades and have even served pilgrims without incident. The sudden surge in religious identity verification—often in humiliating and unlawful ways—has shocked civil society and prompted legal and political intervention.
The Supreme Court’s interim order from July 2023 was explicit in its directive: the UP government’s requirement that shops along Kanwar Yatra routes display their owners’ names had no constitutional validity. The apex court clarified that shopkeepers were only required to mention the type of food served—vegetarian or non-vegetarian—not the identity or religion of the owners.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the petitioners in the case, had argued that the state’s directive was a form of “camouflage order”—intended to mask underlying discriminatory intent. The court agreed, staying the enforcement of the directive and warning the state against taking further steps that could incite communal tensions.
Despite the ruling, the Yogi Adityanath-led government not only continued with the policy in parts of Uttar Pradesh but also inspired similar directives in BJP-ruled states like Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. The expanded implementation raised alarm among human rights groups, constitutional experts, and opposition parties who accused the BJP of enabling mob culture and religious profiling.
Political Fallout, Constitutional Challenges, and the Question of State Complicity
The political fallout from the Muzaffarnagar Aadhaar-check controversy has been swift and polarizing. Opposition leaders across party lines have condemned the incidents, with several invoking constitutional protections under Articles 14, 15, and 21 to highlight the illegality of forced identity checks. Owaisi’s critique was followed by statements from Congress leaders, Samajwadi Party representatives, and civil rights activists, all questioning whether the BJP-led UP government was indirectly enabling a parallel system of religious policing.
Legal experts argue that the actions of the vigilante groups could amount to criminal intimidation and harassment under the Indian Penal Code. Further, they warn of the erosion of constitutional protections when non-state actors begin to enforce identity verification outside the legal framework. Despite this, the UP Police response has remained muted, with no major arrests reported even after videos of the incidents went viral.
The inaction has only deepened suspicions of administrative complicity. Critics point to a pattern of selective enforcement in Uttar Pradesh, where mobs involved in religious vigilantism are often treated leniently compared to protesters or dissenters from minority communities.
Civil Liberties Under Siege—How Surveillance Culture Is Spreading
The Muzaffarnagar controversy is just the latest symptom of a broader surveillance culture spreading across parts of India, particularly under religious or nationalist banners. The call for Aadhaar verification at eateries near Kanwar Yatra routes comes amidst a wider societal shift toward informal surveillance of marginalized groups—where citizens assume the role of law enforcers, often in collaboration with sympathetic officials.
Incidents of citizens demanding ID checks at public venues—ranging from eateries to transport hubs—have increased over the last few years. This creeping normalcy of profiling, critics argue, is fundamentally at odds with the spirit of Indian democracy, which guarantees equal protection and presumes innocence.
Digital rights activists have also raised red flags, warning that the weaponization of Aadhaar in informal settings—without safeguards, accountability, or consent—sets a dangerous precedent. Such unauthorized checks are neither legally enforceable nor ethically justified. Instead, they risk turning India into a “panopticon state,” where fear and exclusion override freedom and dignity.
Voices from the Ground—Victims, Bystanders, and Broken Trust
On the ground in Muzaffarnagar, the mood is one of fear and confusion. Local shopkeepers, especially from the Muslim community, report declining footfall, canceled Kanwar Yatra contracts, and rising hostility from vigilante groups. “We have served pilgrims for years,” said one small dhaba owner. “But now they treat us like criminals. They walk in with cameras, ask for Aadhaar, and if we object, they threaten to shut us down.”
Bystanders who witnessed the incidents say that police patrols were present during some of the vigilante raids but made no attempt to intervene. “It was like a public humiliation event,” said a college student who recorded one of the altercations. “Everyone watched, but no one stopped it.”
The deepening mistrust between minority communities and the state machinery is not just a legal or political issue—it is an emotional and social rupture that could take years to mend.
Historical Parallels—A Dangerous Echo of Partition-Era Policing
Historians have drawn eerie parallels between the current environment and episodes from India’s pre- and post-Partition communal history. The idea of identifying, isolating, and punishing people based on religious identity evokes memories of 1947, when religious profiling and mob enforcement led to widespread atrocities.
“The normalisation of forced identification is a textbook warning sign,” said Professor Rameez Khan, a political historian. “It starts with dress codes and food choices, then moves to ID checks, and eventually becomes about who can exist in public spaces. We’ve seen this before.”
Even during the Emergency (1975–77), when constitutional rights were suspended, such identity-based surveillance was met with stiff resistance from civil society. Today, however, such practices are being normalized in the name of public order, culture, or religious sentiment—with limited institutional resistance.
BJP’s Counter-Narrative—Order, Tradition, and ‘Security for Pilgrims’
The BJP’s response to the controversy has been strategic. While no official endorsement has been given for the vigilante groups’ actions, party leaders have justified the need for “increased vigilance” during the Kanwar Yatra. “Crores of devotees participate, and safety is paramount,” said a BJP spokesperson. “We must ensure that there is no threat from illegal or unauthorised elements.”
This narrative attempts to recast surveillance as a security measure rather than a communal tactic. The party has also cited isolated incidents of past violence to justify enhanced scrutiny of businesses during religious events.
However, critics argue that this is a false equivalence. “Security does not mean humiliation,” said Supreme Court lawyer Vrinda Grover. “The right to dignity and equality cannot be suspended for optics or political convenience.”
National Implications—Is Uttar Pradesh a Template?
With Uttar Pradesh often seen as a political bellwether for India, the developments in Muzaffarnagar have implications beyond the state. Several BJP-ruled states have already adopted similar practices—encouraging voluntary Aadhaar checks, monitoring food vendors during festivals, and issuing guidelines based on religious identifiers.
If such practices remain unchallenged, there is concern that they will become the norm across India. Human rights organizations have called on the Election Commission and National Human Rights Commission to step in and issue clear directives to prevent further misuse of Aadhaar and extrajudicial surveillance.
The Judiciary’s Role—Urgency for Enforceable Relief
While the Supreme Court has issued interim relief in past cases, legal experts argue that stronger, enforceable orders are needed. “The court must go beyond mere observations,” said advocate Indira Jaising. “We need clear penalties, contempt charges, and compensation mechanisms for victims of religious profiling.”
Public interest litigations are now being prepared to seek a ban on vigilante Aadhaar checks, hold police accountable for inaction, and prevent further victimization under the guise of religious propriety.
The judiciary’s credibility is at stake—not only as a guardian of constitutional rights but also as a deterrent against the politicization of law enforcement.
What Lies Ahead—Resistance, Reform, or Rupture?
As the Kanwar Yatra proceeds, the country finds itself at a crossroads. Will India uphold its constitutional promise of secularism and equal dignity for all, or will it continue down the path of informal segregation and religious authoritarianism?
The answers may depend on what happens next in Uttar Pradesh. Will the state act to dismantle vigilante groups, protect businesses, and restore confidence in rule of law? Or will it continue to signal tacit approval through inaction and rhetoric?
Owaisi’s warning—”This filth must stop”—has now become a rallying cry for civil society groups demanding institutional action. Whether this leads to real reform or another episode in India’s long history of communal contestation remains to be seen.
Social Media and the Battle for Public Opinion
The controversy surrounding Aadhaar checks and the humiliating ‘Pant Utaro’ practice during the Kanwar Yatra has spilled onto social media, becoming a digital battleground for narratives. Hashtags such as #StopReligiousProfiling and #AadhaarAbuse trended on X (formerly Twitter), with thousands condemning the normalization of religious surveillance.
Prominent influencers, journalists, and legal experts have weighed in, with many calling for a central-level probe into the incidents. Videos of vigilantes interrogating restaurant staff, coupled with testimonies of harassment, have garnered millions of views, further polarizing public sentiment.
While civil rights advocates demand accountability, right-wing groups have launched counter-campaigns, portraying the vigilante actions as “precautionary” during religious festivals. The BJP’s IT cell and affiliated influencers have attempted to shift focus by resurfacing old videos of past communal incidents, further muddying the waters.
Social media’s role in shaping the issue has proven double-edged—while it amplifies injustices, it also enables misinformation and targeted communal narratives.
Economic Consequences for Local Business Owners
The economic fallout of the Aadhaar-check vigilante actions is beginning to show. Restaurants and dhabas along Kanwar Yatra routes in Muzaffarnagar and neighboring districts have reported significant losses, with daily revenue dropping by over 40% in some cases.
Owners say pilgrims are now hesitant to stop at Muslim-owned establishments, fearing conflict or backlash. Regular customers too, wary of being caught in crossfire, are avoiding areas associated with previous harassment episodes.
Beyond individual eateries, supply chains are disrupted. Vendors supplying meat, spices, and essentials to these establishments have reported canceled orders, delayed payments, and abrupt contract terminations. For a region already dealing with economic stress, this communal targeting adds another layer of precarity.
Small business associations and traders’ bodies have issued joint appeals to the government to ensure that law and order prevails and that business owners—irrespective of religion—can operate freely.
Mental Health Toll on Victims and Families
Amid the political noise, the psychological trauma faced by victims and their families remains under-discussed. Mental health professionals working in the region report a rise in anxiety, panic attacks, and stress-related symptoms among restaurant workers who were subjected to identity checks or public humiliation.
Young workers, many of whom are migrants from Bihar, Bengal, and Eastern UP, now fear working in areas around religious routes. “Some of them were just doing their job and were suddenly dragged into the spotlight, asked to strip, accused of being threats,” said a local counselor. “The stigma and fear stay long after the incident.”
Families of these victims also face social repercussions. In conservative communities, the mere rumor of public stripping or police questioning can affect marriage prospects, job applications, and community standing.
Human rights NGOs are now pushing for trauma counseling, legal aid, and community reintegration programs for the affected.
National Opposition Reacts—Beyond Owaisi’s Voice
While Asaduddin Owaisi was the first to raise his voice, national opposition parties have begun rallying around the issue. Congress leaders such as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jairam Ramesh criticized the UP administration for fostering a climate where such harassment could occur.
“Is this ‘Ram Rajya’? Where people are forced to strip to prove their identity?” asked Priyanka Gandhi during a press briefing in Lucknow. “We demand action, not silence.”
The Samajwadi Party, Trinamool Congress, and the Left parties have also issued statements in Parliament, demanding that the Union Home Ministry investigate the matter and issue a nationwide directive to prevent similar incidents.
A joint opposition resolution is reportedly being drafted ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, calling for safeguards against religious profiling and extrajudicial surveillance.
International Reactions and Human Rights Concerns
The controversy has now drawn international attention. Several global human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, have issued statements condemning the Uttar Pradesh government’s failure to curb religious profiling.
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) expressed concern, saying the pattern of vigilante behavior and lack of enforcement indicates institutional bias. “This is not an isolated event—it reflects a systemic issue,” their statement read.
Diplomatic sources confirm that the issue has quietly been raised in informal talks between Indian and EU human rights delegates, particularly in context of India’s commitments under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the UN Human Rights Council.
While the Ministry of External Affairs has refused to comment on “domestic issues,” the pressure is mounting. If incidents continue, India risks being flagged in upcoming human rights monitoring reports, potentially affecting trade and diplomatic engagements.
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