Meat Shops, Take a Holiday! Yogi Govt Bans Meat Sale Near Religious Sites for Navratri

The Uttar Pradesh government, under the leadership of Yogi Adityanath, has directed immediate closure of all illegal slaughterhouses and banned the sale of meat within 500 meters of religious places before the nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival. Besides, the government on Sunday also announced a complete ban on the slaughter of animals and the selling of meat on April 6, which is Ram Navami day, to preserve religious sanctity.

As per a statement made by the UP government on Saturday, Principal Secretary (Urban Development) Amrit Abhijat has instructed all District Magistrates, Police Commissioners, and Municipal Commissioners to make these orders effective forthwith. The orders, which were given in 2014 and 2017, have now been made stronger to preserve religious sentiments and maintain law and order during the festival.

District-Level Committees to Monitor Implementation

For enforcing stringent compliance, the government has established district-level committees with chairpersons from respective District Magistrates. The committees have members from various departments such as Police, Pollution Control Board, Animal Husbandry, Transport, Labour, Health, and Food Safety Administration. Authorities have been directed to initiate punitive action against offenders under the UP Municipal Corporation Act (1959) and the Food Safety Act (2006 and 2011).

Chaitra Navratri, a major Hindu celebration of Goddess Durga, will begin on Sunday, March 30, and end with Ram Navami festivities on April 6. The celebration sees extensive fasting and worship among Hindu believers, and enforcing the same constraints is hence a priority for the government.

Shiv Sena Leader Demands Shut Down of Roadside Non-Veg Stores in Mumbai

At the same time, in Mumbai, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam has asked local authorities to close roadside stalls selling meat, fish, and mutton during Navratri. Following a meeting with Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Gunjalay (Zone 10), Nirupam stressed that restaurants can keep serving non-vegetarian food, but open meat stalls must be closed as a gesture of respect for religious sentiments.

From tomorrow, holy festival Navratri will begin. A lot of Hindu devotees will fast and pray to the goddess. At such a time, Shawarma stalls are available on the streets in Mumbai, and non-veg is served there. This is injuring Hindu sentiments,” ANI quoted Nirupam as having said.

Enforcement of these restrictions is proof of the government’s dedication to religious harmony and ensuring that sentiments of the devotees are not hurt during the auspicious festival of Navratri.