New Delhi: Show-cause notices have been issued to the mayors and commissioners of New Delhi’s three Municipal Corporations by the Delhi Minorities Commission, on Thursday, demanding an explanation of their decision to order meat vendors to close shop during Navratri.
Zakir Khan, the Commission’s Chairman, has sought a detailed report within 24 hours and has asked the concerned officials to appear on Friday. Khan wrote: “… such proclamation can also incite and encourage hoggish behaviour on the ground. Senior authorities and the courts should step in and put a stop to such behaviour.”
On April 5, the mayors of south and east Delhi created a big political row after asking meat shops in their jurisdiction to stay shut during Navratri. The argument offered was ‘most people do not consume non-vegetarian food during these days’.
However, any official notification was not issued by the municipal corporations.
East Delhi mayor Shyam Sunder Aggarwal on Wednesday issued similar diktats to the Ghazipur slaughterhouse – that it close for the last three days of Navratri – April 8,9 and 10. He claimed the closure was a ‘routine, yearly exercise’.
Sukesh Suryan, South Delhi Mayor has given threats stating that serious action would be taken against the shop owners, if they do not shut their shops.
These decisions can only be taken by a municipal commissioner and not a mayor.
In Delhi Opposition has raised their voice against the meat ban in the State. National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said that if we follow same logic of ‘majority’ in our state, everybody in J&K should be banned from eating in public during Ramzan.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday said that the Constitution allowed her to eat meat whenever she liked, the same way it allows a shopkeeper the freedom to run his trade.
Taking to Twitter, she tweeted, “I live in South Delhi.
The Constitution allows me to eat meat when I like and the shopkeeper the freedom to run his trade. Full stop.”
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