Several meat shops in Delhi to stay shut during Navratri; mayor cites religious sentiments

New Delhi: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has issued an order directing the closure of meat shops for nine days during Navratri which is being observed from April 2 to April 11.

Mukesh Suryaan, Mayor of South Delhi Municipal Corporation has also asked the municipal commissioner to ensure strict adherence of his directives.

Though mayors of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) have made calls for shutting of these shops during the nine-day festival, there has been no such word from the North corporation, which like the other two is also ruled by the BJP.

While East Delhi Mayor Shyam Sunder Aggarwal claimed that during Navratra "90 per cent people do not consume non-vegetarian food", his south counterpart Mukesh Suryan said there was "no need to open meat shops" during the festival as "most people do not consume non-vegetarian food" during this period.

As the move triggered sharp reactions on social media, BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, however, not only supported the call by the mayors, but said such restriction should be imposed all over the country during Navratra.

On closing of meat shops in areas under the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), a senior official of the civic body said, "I have not come across any such proposal relating to the NDMC".

While no official order has been issued so far, Mr Suryan in a letter to SDMC Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti on Monday had said that "religious beliefs and sentiments of devotees are affected" when they come across meat shops or have to bear the foul smell of meat on their way to offer daily prayers to goddess Durga during Navratra.

Meat shops will not be allowed to open from Tuesday during Navratra till April 11, he had said and asked the municipal commissioner to ensure strict adherence of his directives.

Aggarwal also "appealed" to traders to keep meat shops closed during Navratra in view of "religious sentiments" of the community.

The East Delhi mayor, however, said, every year on the last three of Navratra, the Ghazipur slaughterhouse is closed, and this year it will be closed on April 8-10.

"So, it means if anyone is selling meat (of buffalo or goat) in this period, it would be either stale or slaughtering done through illegal means. So, I have ordered that 16 teams be formed to keep a very watchful eye on such traders, and take actions accordingly," Aggarwal said.

"Actions will include seizure of meat or imposition of challan or even revoking if license or sealing of shops, as per the situation," he said.

The owners of meat shops at the INA market said that they shut their establishments fearing action from authorities, even as no official order has been issued in this regard.

This is the first time when the civic body has asked for the closure of meat shops under its jurisdiction during Navratri which is being observed from April 2-11.

Meanwhile, many commoners also protested such a move by the civic bodies in a democratic country.