BJP councillor calls for religion-based renaming of shops in Delhi
Videos on social media show Negi interrogating Muslim shopkeepers
New Delhi: A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillor from Vinod Nagar, East Delhi, has ignited controversy by urging local shop owners to rename their businesses to reflect their religious affiliations.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Councillor Ravinder Singh Negi’s directive has drawn widespread criticism from political parties, business owners, and community members who view it as a distressing attempt to divide communities along religious lines.
Negi reportedly addressed local shopkeepers, suggesting their shops should visibly represent their respective religions. While he framed this as a “request,” many shop owners felt pressured to comply. Videos circulating on social media show Negi interrogating Muslim shopkeepers, including a juice vendor, about their business names and demanding they showcase their religious identity.
The directive has raised serious concerns about religious discrimination and the potential for increased communal tensions in the area. Critics argue that such measures could disrupt social harmony and set a dangerous precedent for similar practices elsewhere. Local business owners fear that renaming shops based on religion could impact customer choices and lead to boycotts, threatening their livelihoods.
Opposition leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress have condemned the councillor’s actions, accusing the BJP of promoting divisive agendas and calling for accountability.
Earlier this month, a video surfaced showing Negi threatening Muslim shopkeepers, insisting they display their “real Muslim names” on their shops. His confrontational remarks raised alarms about the growing atmosphere of intolerance and communal intimidation in the city.
