Mahadangal: ‘Appeal’ or Pressure? Navratri Closure Drive by BJP MLA Under Scrutiny | ABP NEWS

A fresh political and religious controversy has surfaced in Delhi during the Navratri festival after BJP MLA Tarvinder Singh Marwah visited multiple meat shops, requesting their closure for the duration of the festival. The move, although presented as a “humble request,” is being widely criticized as a form of coercion — particularly after images surfaced showing Marwah and his team posing in front of shuttered shops. While Marwah defended the act by citing religious sentiments and voluntary compliance from shopkeepers, many questioned the power dynamic involved when an elected official makes such “requests” alongside a crowd. Critics argue that smaller vendors may feel intimidated, even if no direct force is used. Hindu religious leader Yogi Umesh Puri, who did not personally visit any meat shops, supported the idea in principle. He emphasized that the call for meat shop closures during Shardiya Navratri is rooted in religious respect, not compulsion. According to him, it is an appeal to honor the beliefs of the majority Hindu community for just nine days. Opposition parties and civil society activists argue that religion is increasingly being used for political mileage, risking communal harmony and economic livelihoods.