Uttarakhand's Rudrapur mayor orders 9-day meat sale ban in city during Navratri; KFC, Burger King fined

RUDRAPUR: In an order that has kicked up a row, Rudrapur Municipal Corporation (RMC) in Uttarakhand has directed a complete ban on the sale of both raw and cooked meat across the city during the Navratri period from March 19 to 27. Notably, the order coincides with Saturday's Eid-Al-Fitr festivities.On the first day of its implementation, municipal teams conducted surprise inspections on Thursday and major food outlets at Metropolis Mall, such as KFC and Burger King, were fined Rs 5,000 each for "continuing the sale of non-veg food".Bhupendra Singh, a municipal official, said, "We're ensuring strict compliance. The drive will continue and violators will face penalties as per the rules. We've penalised KFC and Burger King for non-compliance of the order." The outlets were yet to comment on the matter.Issued Wednesday purportedly under instructions from the office of the mayor, BJP's Vikas Sharma, the order states, "all establishments dealing in meat, including shops, restaurants and eateries, must suspend operations for the nine-day festival".It further warns that any violation will invite legal action and fines, and "the police and food safety department have been directed to monitor compliance, while the civic body's staff -- sanitation and field officers -- have been tasked with overseeing adherence in localities".The directive has evoked mixed reactions among residents, with members of the minority community asking the authorities what about their Eid celebrations?"If non-veg shops are being shut during Navratri, then liquor shops should be closed during Ramzan to maintain fairness," said Parvez Qureshi, a resident.Another resident, Sajid Khan, questioned the order's timing. "This year, Eid coincides with Navratri, and such orders create an impression that only Muslims consume non-veg food, which is not true. We personally do not have an issue with the restriction," Khan said.Resident of the city's Khera colony, Umar Khan, added, "This order hurts our sentiments. Eid is a time when we traditionally prepare and share non-veg delicacies with family and dear ones. Such restrictions, now, make it feel as though our community is being unfairly singled out..."Navtej Saini, a social worker, also expressed his concerns. "What a person chooses to eat is one's personal choice. The civic body does not have the right to dictate anyone's food habits. It is directly against the Constitution of India," he said.A few supported the directive. "Uttarakhand is ‘Devbhoomi'. Along with restrictions on non-veg food, there should be a complete ban on liquor across the state," Vicky Singh, a local, said."This is nothing but an attempt to lure voters ahead of polls. If BJP is so committed, then why doesn't it impose a blanket ban on meat sales across Uttarakhand, particularly in the hill areas where it is a daily staple diet of many?" Congress worker Mohan Khera asked.