Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has declared November 25 as ‘No Non-veg Day’ in the state to commemorate the birth anniversary of spiritual leader Sadhu TL Vaswadi, and has ordered the closure of all slaughterhouses and meat shops on Saturday.
"In honour of Sadhu TL Vaswani's birth anniversary and to uphold the principles of non-violence advocated by eminent leaders, a "no non-veg day" will be observed on November 25. Consequently, all slaughterhouses and meat shops will be closed on this occasion,” said the UP government’s circular.
The government has asked authorities to make sure that the order is followed strictly across the state.
Sadhu Thanwardas Lilaram Vaswani, an educationist and founder of the Mira Movement, was born on November 25, 1879. Every year, the Sadhu Vaswani Mission, dedicated to advancing the legacy of Sadhu T. L. Vaswani, observes International Meatless Day on November 25th in honour of his birthday.
This day is celebrated to promote the widespread adoption of vegetarian living, a cause that Vaswani passionately championed. He passed away on January 16, 1966, at the age of 86.
The move comes days after the Yogi Adityanath government banned the sale, production, storage and distribution of food items with halal certification.
The state government claimed that attempts to discourage the use of products without halal certificates lead to “unfair financial benefits” and also form part of a strategy to “sow class hatred, create divisions in society, and weaken the country” by “anti-national elements”.
The state’s Food and Safety Department on Thursday said it has seized 2,275 kg of halal-certified products from 38 districts and inspected 482 business establishments since the ban came into force.
The ban excludes food products manufactured for export. “It was found that some organisations that weren’t equipped to issue halal certificates were doing so,” said Anita Singh, Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner. "The certificates were being given to all kinds of products like edible oil, mint, rice, and bakery products. We found this to be against the rules, and hence, the ban was imposed.”