Storm within Congress after Himachal govt’s dkitat on ID cards for store vendors, party to present official stand

Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 26 (ANI): The decision by Himachal government to implement the mandatory display of outlet owner’s details in line with the Yogi Adityanath government’s decision has caused significant discontent among minority leaders of the party, sources said.

According to sources, these leaders will soon present their grievances to the party high command.

During the Kanwar Yatra when the UP government had passed a dkitat to make it mandatory for vendors to display their names several Congress leaders including Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and general secretary Priyanka Gandhi had voiced their opposition to the decision by posting on X.

Later, when the Supreme Court in July stayed the UP government’s diktat, everyone praised the judgment. Now, there is discontent within the rank and file of the party on how this could have happened in a state like Himachal Pradesh where the Congress is in power/

These leaders argue that they had silently accepted the State dministration’s stance on the recent Sanjauli mosque controversy, even as many issues were raised unnecessarily.

The Congress has now swung into damage control mode. Himachal Pradesh Minister and Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh has informed the party high command that the issue of increasing street vendors in the hilly areas, including Shimla, has gained momentum. All parties have raised this issue, and by consensus, a committee was formed to regulate these vendors.

Based on that committee’s report, it was decided that the government and the ministry would determine the regulations for the vendors, taking into account their numbers. It was meant to designate them through Aadhaar cards and identity documents, not to create a situation like in Uttar Pradesh.

The high command has advised him to present statements and decisions in a way that avoids confusion.

Congress in-charge for Himachal, Rajeev Shukla, has submitted a report on how to manage the situation and what steps to take next to the high command. Based on Rajeev Shukla’s report, the Congress high command has instructed the media department to present their stance. The party is expected to present its official stand on the issue on Thursday.

Earlier on Wednesday, Vikramaditya Singh said that an order related to the mandatory display of outlet owner’s details has been issued during a joint meeting with the Public Works Urban Development and Municipal Corporation, adding that every shopkeeper and street vendor has to display their identification.

“We did a meeting with the UD (Urban Development) and the Municipal Corporation. To make sure that hygienic food is sold, a decision has been taken for all the street vendors… especially those selling edible items,” Vikramaditya told reporters on Wednesday.