Fri Sep 27 16:24:45 UTC 2024: ## Himachal Pradesh Minister Faces Party Ire for Food Outlet Order

**Shimla, India:** A controversial order by Himachal Pradesh Minister Vikramaditya Singh requiring food outlets to display the names and addresses of their owners has landed him in hot water with his own party, the Congress. Singh, who holds the portfolio for Public Works and Urban Development, was summoned to Delhi and reprimanded by the Congress leadership for the decision.

The order drew immediate criticism, with many seeing it as a direct copy of a similar move implemented by the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government during the Kanwar Yatra. The Congress had vociferously condemned the Uttar Pradesh order, calling it “state-sponsored bigotry”. This blatant inconsistency has left the party facing accusations of hypocrisy.

“The name of an individual doesn’t matter when it’s the brand that’s being sold,” said senior Congress leader TS Singh Deo, highlighting the discriminatory nature of the order.

AIUDF MLA Rafiqul Islam accused the Congress of mirroring the BJP’s divisive policies. “Congress is no different from the BJP now. By adopting the ‘UP model,’ they are fanning communal tensions,” he said.

Social media users also slammed the party for its double standard.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is reportedly unhappy with Singh’s handling of the situation. The party leadership has advised Singh to refrain from making further contentious statements regarding the matter.

The Congress is now struggling to defend the actions of its government in Himachal Pradesh while simultaneously addressing the contradiction with its previous stance. This controversy has left the party open to criticism from both supporters and detractors alike.

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