The United States said it was aware of the controversial directives issued to riverside eateries in two Indian states. Kanwar Yatra route But he stressed that these rules were not really effective after the Supreme Court imposed an interim stay.
Responding to a question by a Pakistani journalist who raised the issue, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said he had discussed with his Indian counterparts the importance of equal treatment for members of all religions.
“We’ve seen those reports. We’ve also seen reports that the Indian Supreme Court on July 22 put an interim stay on the implementation of those rules. So they’re actually not in effect,” Miller said.
He further said, “We are always committed to promoting and protecting universal respect for the right to freedom of religion or belief for everyone anywhere in the world. We have discussed with our Indian counterparts the importance of equal treatment for members of all religions.”
The issue of religious freedom has been a matter of dispute between India and the US for many years. On several occasions, India has described the US State Department’s report on religious freedom as biased.
On Monday, the Supreme Court put an interim stay on the instructions issued to restaurants in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. on the Kanwar Yatra route To display the names of their owners.
Issuing notices to the Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh governments, the court said the eateries will have to display the type of food they are serving.
This move of the Uttar Pradesh government has been criticized by the opposition as well as the BJP’s allies at the Centre. The opposition said that this order is an attempt to create economic inequality between Hindu and Muslim shopkeepers.