Row over Muslim shop names exposes double standards as powerful Hindu businessmen freely use Urdu and Muslim brand names without protest or scrutiny
NEW DELHI — The row over shop and brand names has once again placed Muslim traders in the country under pressure, with Hindu groups questioning their right to do business, forcing closures, and accusing them of hiding their identity. At the same time, influential Hindu businessmen and leaders linked to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continue to run businesses under Urdu or Muslim names without facing any objection.
The contrast has triggered sharp debate about equality before law, freedom of trade, and the selective anger shown by groups that claim to act in the name of religion.
Adil Ahmed, a well-known bullion trader based in Delhi, says the issue has nothing to do with faith and everything to do with trade practice. “Products with Urdu or Arabic names are easier to export to Muslim countries. This creates trust among customers. This is a business idea, anyone can adopt it,” he said.
He added, “Any business in the world runs on trust and the quality of goods or services. Similarly, Urdu is not the language of any community or religion; anyone can speak or write it. They can name themselves or their shops after it.”
Ahmed said the outrage appears only when Muslims are involved. “Creating controversy over this would be nothing but foolishness. But when a Muslim does this, violent people start protesting in the name of Sanatan Dharma,” he said.
Ahmed also pointed to clear legal safeguards. “They ignore the Supreme Court’s orders, which clearly state that no one can be stopped from doing business or naming anything they want. No one can be forced to reveal their name or identity on their business or shop. This would violate the constitutional rights of citizens,” he said.
Legal experts echo this view. A senior lawyer practising in Delhi, who did not wish to be named, said, “There is no law in India that allows private groups to demand the religion or name background of a shop owner. Any such act amounts to intimidation.”
One recent incident took place on GMS Road in Dehradun, where members of Bajrang Dal forced the closure of a salon named “Lucky Hair Dresser.” The shop was owned by a Muslim youth.
According to local residents, activists arrived at the shop, objected to the name, and warned that the salon would not be allowed to operate. They later handed the shop owner over to the police.
A neighbour of the shop said, “There was no issue with the salon before. Suddenly, they said the name was wrong because the owner is Muslim. The boy was scared and shut the shop.”
The activists warned that if the salon reopened, they would stage another protest.
During the Kanwar Yatra, similar actions were reported in Saharanpur and Muzaffarnagar. Dozens of shops and hotels were shut down, posters were torn, and owners were allegedly assaulted.
The businesses targeted included establishments named Himalaya Hotel, Vaishnav Vegetarian Hotel, Dream Light Restaurant, and Royal Restaurant. The owners’ fault, according to the protesters, was that they were Muslims using Hindi or Hindu-sounding names.
A hotel owner in Muzaffarnagar said, “We were told to close during the yatra. They said Muslims cannot run hotels with such names. My family has run this place for years. No one had a problem before.”
In several cases, Muslim shopkeepers were accused of hiding their identity and carrying out what some groups called “business jihad.” They were asked why they did not use clearly Muslim names.
Community leaders say such accusations have created fear. A traders’ association member in western Uttar Pradesh said, “People are afraid. Even legal businesses are being targeted. Many are thinking of shutting shops during festivals just to stay safe.”
What has angered many observers is the silence of these same groups when powerful figures or large companies use Muslim or Urdu names.
The question often raised is simple: if a Muslim trader is wrong to use a Hindi or Hindu name, how is it acceptable for Hindu businessmen to use Urdu or Muslim names?
“If BJP leader Pankaj Chaudhary’s ‘Rahat Rooh’ is true, then how is ‘Lucky Hair Dresser’ wrong?” asked a Muslim trader in Dehradun.
Pankaj Chaudhary, the Uttar Pradesh BJP President, is also a well-known businessman. His company, Harvanshram Bhagwandas, manufactures an Ayurvedic oil called “Rahat Rooh.”
The product is widely sold in Uttar Pradesh and the Purvanchal region and is used for joint pain, headaches, and body aches. The brand name is Urdu, yet no Hindu organisation has objected to it.
A local shopkeeper in Gorakhpur said, “Everyone knows Rahat Rooh. No one asks why it has an Urdu name. But if a small Muslim shop uses a Hindi name, there is anger.”
The pattern is also seen in the meat export industry, where several major companies with Hindu owners operate under Muslim or Arabic names.
India’s largest slaughterhouse is located in Rudram village in Medak district, Telangana. Spread across about 400 acres, it is owned by Satish Sabharwal and run by Al Kabir Exports Private Limited. The company exports beef to Middle Eastern countries and operates from its headquarters in Nariman Point, Mumbai.
Despite the sensitive nature of beef trade, no mass protests are reported against the company’s Muslim name.
Arabian Exports Private Limited, based in Mumbai, exports beef and mutton. It is owned by Sunil Kapoor, with other directors including Veernath Nagnath Kudmule, Vikas Maruti Shinde, and Ashok Narang.
Al Noor Exports, started in 1992, is owned by Sunil Sood, with Ajay Sood as partner. The firm exports beef to 35 countries and has facilities in Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Mumbai, and an office in Delhi.
Both companies openly use Muslim names and export to Muslim-majority countries. Hindu groups have raised no objection.
Trade experts say these are not isolated cases. There are hundreds of companies owned by Hindus, Jains, and others that use Urdu names for products aimed at foreign markets.
A Mumbai-based exporter said, “Brand names are chosen for markets. This is common practice. No one cares about religion in export business.”
Many Muslim traders believe the issue is not about faith but about power and status.
A shop owner in Saharanpur said, “When big people do it, it is business sense. When poor Muslims do it, it becomes a crime.”
Another trader added, “If law was the concern, it would apply to everyone. Here, rules change depending on who you are.”
In several incidents, police have been criticised for acting against shop owners rather than protecting them.
A former police officer said, “Handing over a shopkeeper to police because of his religion or shop name has no legal basis. Police must act according to law, not pressure.”
Civil rights groups have asked state governments to issue clear instructions to police to prevent such actions.
The impact on daily life is visible. Small traders say they are losing business and peace of mind.
A barber from Dehradun said, “I only wanted to earn honestly. Now I worry every day. Should I change my shop name? Will that even save me?”
Community leaders and legal experts are calling for equal application of law.
A Delhi-based rights activist said, “Either shop names are free for all, or rules apply to all. Selective targeting damages trust and unity.”
At the heart of the controversy lies a basic question about India’s Constitution and its promise of equality.
As Adil Ahmed put it, “No one can be stopped from doing business or naming anything they want. This is our right as citizens.”
For many Muslim traders, the issue is not just about names but about dignity, safety, and the right to earn a living without fear.
As long as powerful figures remain untouched while small traders face threats, the debate over shop names is likely to continue, exposing uncomfortable questions about fairness and justice in today’s India.
