Sonu Sood takes center stage in the online war regarding CM Yogi’s orders in Uttar Pradesh. The annual pilgrimage of Kanwar Yatra is a piously observed by devotees of Bhagwan Shiva. However, it is a focal point of controversy this year. The UP government’s directive for food vendors along the Yatra route to display their names has sparked a heated debate. First, the order was only applicable in the Muzaffarnagar region, but now the whole state of UP and Uttarakhand have made the display of true names and licenses compulsory for Shop Owners and Vendors!
हंगामा क्यों है बरपा? नाम जो पूछ लिया है ?
ये क़ानून तो 2006 में ही बन गया था। सरकार थी मनमोहन सिंह जी की।
2011 में नियम बन गए कि सभी ढाबा और रेस्टोरेंट मालिकों को अपना नाम और लाइसेंस नंबर बड़े अक्षरों में लगाना होगा ताकि ग्राहक आसानी से देख सकें..
ये सभी प्रबुद्धजीवियों के… pic.twitter.com/28Ahzy0bR8— Rubika Liyaquat (@RubikaLiyaquat) July 19, 2024
Here, actor Sonu Sood’s comments have inflamed the passions of Hindu warriors online. The debate shines a harsh spotlight on the intersection of religion, public health, and secularism. Let’s explores the various facets of the controversy, placing Sonu Sood’s controversial remarks at its heart.
Humanity Over Religion: Sonu Sood’s First Controversial Comment
There should be only one name plate on every shop : “HUMANITY” 🇮🇳
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) July 19, 2024
Actor Sonu Sood sparked a major controversy with his comments on the Kanwar Yatra. In a tweet, he suggested that Indians should only identify with Humanity. Thus, every shop should have the nameplate of “Humanity.” This comment directly implied that the government’s decision to have food vendors display their names was unnecessary and divisive.
Sonu Sood’s statement met with mixed reactions. While some applauded his “secular” sentiment of unity, others saw it as an attempt to overlook the practical need for transparency during a religious pilgrimage.
Kangana Ranaut’s Subtle Rebuttal
Agree, Halal should be replaced with “ HUMANITY” https://t.co/EqbGml2Yew
— Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) July 19, 2024
Actress-turned-MP Kangana Ranaut responded sharply to Sonu Sood’s comments. She agreed with the principle of humanity transcending religion in words. Thereafter, she subtly stated that if “Humanity” was the only grounds, then no shop should be allowed to sell “Halal.”
MP Ranaut’s statement was an irrefutable rebuttal that pointed out that not all religions practice humanity.
One-book religions often label their food with Kosher or Hala to discriminate on religious grounds. Her pointed retort highlighted a perceived inconsistency in Sood’s advocacy for secularism, sparking further debate online.
Online Backlash and Accusations
#SonuSood sir meri bhi Humanity try karke dekho ek baar plz pic.twitter.com/73prCRn0T6
— Sajal (@sajalllllllll) July 20, 2024
Sonu Sood’s first comment ignited a storm of criticism online. Netizens accused him of shielding unhygienic “thook jihad” perpetrated by some zealot Islamist vendors under the guise of promoting humanity. Critics tagged Sonu Sood in various videos showing vendors, specifically Islamists, engaging in unclean practices like spitting on food to make it Halal. These videos represent a harsh reality that has encouraged the government to protect the Kawandiyas. The demand for transparency is a way to ensure the purity of food consumed by the Kanwar Yatra pilgrims.
मतलब कुछ भी !!!!
Humanity Sood rakh lo bhai apna naam
कल के अखबारों में आपका नाम बदलने का विज्ञापन मिलेगा क्या ? https://t.co/rYriARTMTh— Ashok Shrivastav (@AshokShrivasta6) July 20, 2024
Sonu Sood Shows Deep Ignorance In Second Controversial Comment
हमारे श्री राम जी ने शबरी के झूठे बेर खाए थे तो मैं क्यों नहीं खा सकता
हिंसा को अहिंसा से पराजित किया जा सकता है मेरे भाई🤍
बस मानवता बरकरार रहनी चाहिए ।जय श्री राम🚩 https://t.co/uljActwMrR
— sonu sood (@SonuSood) July 20, 2024
In an attempt to defend his stance, Sonu Sood sent out a second comment. He invoked the example of Bhagwan Ram eating “jhoote ber” from Mata Shabri. He tweeted asking if Bhagwan Ram can eat “jhoote” fruits from Shabri, why can’t Hindu pilgrims? He asked Kawadiyas to be more tolerant and chanted “Jai Shri Ram” to whitewash his sins.
However, Sonu Sood’s statement on Bhagwan Ram is full of ignorance due to a severe lack of understanding or knowledge.
In the tale of Ramayana, Mata Shabri tasted the fruits to ensure they were sweet and fit for her beloved Lord Ram. Thus, Bhagwan Ram accepted her devotion in the form of “jhoote ber” with humility. However, those who contaminate food for Kawadiyas are not tasting the food for quality check! Contrarily, they perpetuate “thook jihad” with the malicious intent of defiling the food and the Murti Pujak who eat them. For such Islamists, this is not an act of love for a fellow human, it comes from a place of hate against Kafirs!
Political and Public Reactions
CM Yogi’s Response
#WATCH | Ranchi, Jharkhand: On 'nameplates' on food shops on the Kanwar route in Uttar Pradesh, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "This law was made by the Akhilesh Yadav government, Mayawati government. What is unconstitutional in this? Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians all have… pic.twitter.com/97INatgeIt
— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2024
Tems Yogi’s response to the online “secularism” warriors was fierce and fast. He expanded the directive to display names and licenses to all vendors across Uttar Pradesh, not just those in Muzaffarnagar. He emphasized that the order was about transparency and honesty.
CM Adityanath’s team stated that no one was being banned or discriminated against based on religion or caste.
#WATCH | On 'nameplates' on food shops on Kanwar route in Uttar Pradesh, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says, "Confusion had erupted, on the basis of a limited administrative guideline. I am happy that the State Government has clarified all communal confusion. As far as devotion,… pic.twitter.com/MHJIH4rDWo
— ANI (@ANI) July 19, 2024
Moreover, they noted that the requirement to display names and licenses was in line with a law passed in 2006 and amended in 2011 under the INDI-Alliance parties. Thus, tongue in cheek he tells the world, the BJP is only ensuring the implementation of regulation passed during Congress regimes not creating new ones to perpetuate a religious divide.
Political Leaders And Their Narratives
मुज़फ़्फ़रनगर पुलिस ने जनता के भाईचारे और विपक्ष के दबाव में आकर आख़िरकार होटल, फल, ठेलोंवालों को अपना नाम लिखकर प्रदर्शित करने के प्रशासनिक आदेश को स्वैच्छिक बनाकर जो अपनी पीठ थपथपायी है, उतने से ही अमन-औ-चैन पसंद करनेवाली जनता माननेवाली नहीं है। ऐसे आदेश पूरी तरह से ख़ारिज होने…
— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) July 18, 2024
Several political leaders attempted to turn the narrative against the government. Akhilesh Yadav called the directive a “social crime” and urged the courts to take suo motu cognizance of the matter. Many others tried to paint it in terms of the caste narrative.
However, the order does not need the religion or caste of the vendor, only the legal name and license!
Other leaders, like Asaduddin Owaisi and members of the Congress, accused the government of state-sponsored bigotry. However, none of them can deny the charges of deliberate contamination of food by Islamists. Thus, they chose to present a fake “Dara Hua Musalman” narrative along with fake “caste” discrimination to stoke communal fires.
Honesty Is The Only Solution
The Kanwar Yatra is for devout Shiv Bhakts. Some stay satvik as per rituals, some prefer to consume Bhang and Madira as part of Tantric rituals. However, none of them prefer to consume food that has been spit or peed into! Thus, anyone who claims that Shiva Bhakts do not need to know if the food is Satvik is only partially right. Not all Kawardiyas stick to a purely Satvik diet, but all of them prefer to consume clean food!
Even if we accept the argument that some of them consume ganja and/alcohol, it’s not contaminated with spit or urine or non satvik food items, including meat. Raj Bhaduri should do a collab with Sonu Sood and show us how they consume contaminated food for the sake of humanity. https://t.co/If2nfOIy2A
— Nupur J Sharma (@UnSubtleDesi) July 20, 2024
Any controversy around the Kanwar Yatra directive is unnecessary political nonsense.
The administration has not banned vendors. It has implemented a decade-old law where all vendors need to display legal names and licenses. This is not a call for religious or caste discrimination, but a practical demand for transparency. People like Sonu Sood are preaching tolerance over honesty. And they use the label of “Humanity” to safeguard the interest of zealots. However, Sonu Sood’s misuse of Ram Naam to justify his cause is a bad idea! Bharat needs people to not just read the legacy of Bhagwan Ram but also to understand the intent behind the legend. Hopefully, Sood and others will understand that Honesty is not the opposite of Humanity! And finally, using ‘Jair Shri Ram’ at the end of the tweet does not justificy the content!