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During the ongoing Shravan month’s Kanwar Yatra in Haridwar, a case of concealing identity has come to light regarding a shop at the Narsan border. When some vigilant devotees made payment through UPI scanner at this shop operated by the name ‘Gupta Chart Bhandar’, the name of the shopkeeper was shown as ‘Gulfam’ in the transaction details.
As soon as this information came to light, there was confusion and uncertainty among the pilgrims. However, it is clear that the purpose of this incident is not to target any community, but to ensure transparency and clarity of identity in business on the religious pilgrimage route.
‘Gupta Chart Bhandar’ was a shop set up with a common name, from where devotees were regularly buying puja materials etc. But when a devotee made a digital payment by scanning the QR code, the shop owner’s name appeared as ‘Gulfam’ in the payment details. This made the devotees feel that the shop’s name was deliberately kept misleading.
Devotees say that this is not just an issue of name or religion, but a matter of trust and transparency. If any shopkeeper does business in a religious fair, then his real identity should be clearly revealed.
Lakhs of devotees participate in a huge and sacred pilgrimage like the Kanwar Yatra. In such a situation, it is extremely important to maintain transparency, respect religious sentiments and protect faith.
Every citizen of India has the right to do business, irrespective of his religion, caste or community. But in religious events, especially in faith-based events like Kanwar Yatra, transparency and moral responsibility become imperative.
It is also important that this incident should not be seen as a bias against any particular community or class. It would not be fair to blame the entire community for the mistake of a particular shop.
This incident indicates that in the future:
The identity and validity of all shops should be checked.
There should be clarity on UPI and payment details
Action should be taken against any shop misrepresenting its name or identity.
At the same time, business integrity also has to be ensured along with the sanctity of religious events.
The case of ‘Gupta Chart Bhandar’ has given rise to an important debate on transparency and responsibility in business at holy places. Instead of targeting any particular person in this case, there is a need for extensive monitoring and public awareness towards making the system transparent and reliable.
In this confluence of religion, business and trust, every party must be bound by the thread of honesty and transparency.
