New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh has reportedly been pulled up by the Congress high command in Delhi for a recent decision mandating food outlets across the state to clearly display the identity cards of their owners.
The policy, which Singh announced earlier this week, has stirred huge backlash on social media and within Congress party itself. Concerns have been raised about the party’s position on such measures, particularly since it had previously criticised a similar policy enacted by the Uttar Pradesh government during the Kanwar Yatra.
Singh summoned to Delhi
Singh, who manages the Public Works and Urban Development portfolios, was summoned to Delhi for discussions and advised to avoid making controversial public statements, India Today reported quoting sources. According to reports, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed dissatisfaction with Singh’s handling of the situation, which has now become a major issue for the state government.
The minister defended the policy. He said that it requires shopkeepers and street vendors to display their ID cards, issued by local authorities, to increase transparency and improve security. He cited growing public concerns over the rising number of migrants in the state, particularly in tourist-heavy regions like Shimla, as a reason for the decision.
“We have decided that street vendors must display their ID cards, which are issued by the local street vendors’ committee,” Singh told the press. However, the measure has drawn comparisons to a similar initiative implemented by the Uttar Pradesh government under Yogi Adityanath, which faced heavy criticism for allegedly discriminating against minority communities.
Congress grapples with internal policy divide
Within the Congress, many are uneasy about Singh’s policy. They fear that it mirrors the controversial actions taken by Uttar Pradesh’s government—measures that prominent Congress leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had vocally opposed. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court put a stay on the UP government’s directive, a decision the Congress leadership had celebrated as a triumph for justice and secularism. Now, with a similar policy emerging in a Congress-led state, the party faces an internal dilemma. Singh has been asked to clarify his decision and ensure that future statements and policies are more carefully communicated to avoid further controversy.
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