Madhya Pradesh BJP Demands To Shut Meat Shops During Navratri, Congress Reacts

Amid the Navratri festival, BJP lawmakers in Madhya Pradesh demand the closure of meat shops, sparking debates between Congress and BJP.

The political tussle over the closure of meat shops during Navratri continues to stir controversy in Madhya Pradesh.

Source : Ambuj Pandey

The BJP MLAs and ministers in Madhya Pradesh are now demanding that meat shops be closed during the Navratri festival. This has sparked a political clash between Congress and BJP. Congress has questioned whether BJP lawmakers had ever suggested closing liquor shops during Ramadan for a month.

In Madhya Pradesh, BJP lawmakers have strongly advocated for the closure of meat shops during the 9 days of Navratri. BJP MLA Rameshwar Sharma emphasized that honouring the feelings of Hindus during fasting periods would lead to mutual respect. Minister Rakesh Singh added that a large section of the population refrains from consuming meat during such religious occasions, and the presence of meat shops in nearby areas creates problems. Therefore, he argued, it is justified to demand a ban on meat sales to respect the sentiments of the majority community. MLA Abhilash Pandey also supported the demand, suggesting that vegetarian food is better as it also provides protein.

In response to these demands, Congress leader Abbas Hafeez strongly criticised BJP lawmakers. He pointed out that such statements were made purely to gain political mileage. Hafeez further remarked that if this logic were to be followed, the Congress should also demand the closure of liquor shops during Ramadan, questioning why the BJP government hadn't acted on that.

After this political debate, meat traders weighed in on the issue, accusing BJP members of deliberately trying to create a tense environment. They argued that Bhopal, known for its Ganga-Jamuni culture, should not be disrupted by such demands. If shops were to be closed, the traders suggested that it should be liquor shops instead. They also pointed out that their shops already comply with all administrative rules and are covered accordingly.