Muslims in India have reported being fired from their jobs and facing business closures following the introduction of a “discriminatory” policy in two states that mandates restaurants to publicly display the names of all employees. This policy was first implemented by Yogi Adityanath, the hardline Hindu monk and chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Recently, Himachal Pradesh, led by the opposition Congress party, also announced it would enforce the same requirement.
The state governments claim this policy aims to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations. However, local residents and activists argue that it targets Muslim workers and businesses. In India, names often reveal a person’s religion and caste, raising concerns among Muslim business owners that they will be subjected to targeted attacks or economic boycotts, particularly from hardline Hindu groups active in the area.
“This order is dangerous; it forces us to wear our religion on our sleeve,” said Tabish Aalam, a 28-year-old chef from Lucknow. He expressed skepticism about the government’s intentions, fearing exploitation of the policy.
The Uttar Pradesh government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has faced criticism for increasing anti-Muslim sentiments and discrimination since Modi took office a decade ago.
As a result of the new laws, some business owners have dismissed Muslim employees to mitigate potential risks. Rafiq, a 45-year-old restaurant owner in Muzaffarnagar, fired his four Muslim staff in July due to pressures from the police to display employee names publicly. He expressed concerns for their safety, stating, “Displaying names makes us vulnerable and a very easy target.”
Calls for economic boycotts against Muslims have been increasingly prevalent in Uttar Pradesh, including a public plea from a leader of the rightwing Hindu group Bajrang Dal to avoid purchasing from Muslim vendors.
Idrees Ahmed, a 31-year-old cook with seven years of experience, was recently dismissed along with other Muslim staff members. He lamented the impact on his family, saying, “I lost a job simply because of my religion.”
In Muzaffarnagar, complaints arose about only Muslim-owned businesses being subjected to scrutiny. Mohammad Azeem, a roadside stall owner, questioned why he was targeted and asserted that the administration was intentionally sowing division.
BJP spokesperson Praveen Garg defended the policy as a measure for restaurant hygiene, claiming no one is being denied the right to work. He pointed to incidents involving contamination of food by specific community members as justification for the new rules.
Despite claims of Muslim conspiracies behind food contamination incidents, evidence supporting such allegations remains nonexistent. The Indian Supreme Court recently blocked a separate order from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand that had also required the display of restaurant owners’ and operators’ names, siding with opposition lawmakers who argued it was religiously discriminatory.
Following the controversy, the Himachal Pradesh government announced plans to adopt a similar policy, citing food hygiene and concerns about “migrants” as motivations. Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh stated that the law applies to everyone, yet he acknowledged that if there are widespread fears regarding the name display, alternative solutions may be explored.
Business owners accused the Congress party of betraying its secular commitments and courting Hindu voters with this policy. Sharik Ali, a 27-year-old restaurant owner in Shimla, expressed fear for his safety if he is required to display his identity, reflecting the broader anxieties among Muslims in India under the current political climate.
