Fear, confusion after Delhi meat shop directive; apply across country: BJP MP

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In a letter to the South MCD Commissioner on Monday, mayor Mukkesh Suryaan had sought “closure of meat shops during the nine-day period of the Navratri festival extending from April 2 to April 11”. He wrote that during this period, “people forgo even the use of onion and garlic, and the sight of meat being sold in open or near temples makes them uncomfortable”.

Verma, who represents the West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, Tuesday said Muslims should not be influenced by “provocative” statements made by leaders such as Asaduddin Owaisi, and to respect the Hindu festival. He said others would also respect their sentiments when their festivals come.

There are around 1,500 registered meat shops under the SDMC’s jurisdiction. While this is the first time a civic body in Delhi has sought closure of meat shops during Navratri, it is not the first time it has tried regulating them.

In the past, MCDs have asked shopkeepers to display whether the meat sold is jhatka or halal, and also tried to clamp down on meat being displayed in the open. On the ground, though, enforcement has been difficult.

The Congress called the latest move a cheap publicity stunt as the mayor does not have the power to impose it. “The Commissioner has the power to impose such bans and these statements by the mayor are only to be in the news and please his leaders,” said Delhi Congress vice-president Abhishek Dutt.

AAP’s MCD in-charge Durgesh Pathak said the BJP should impose such a ban in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, which they rule, if they hope to find success in implementing it in Delhi.

And on Tuesday night, Abdullah tweeted: “During Ramzan we don’t eat between sunrise & sunset. I suppose it’s OK if we ban every non-Muslim resident or tourist from eating in public, especially in the Muslim dominated areas. If majoritarianism is right for South Delhi, it has to be right for J&K.”

While an official notification had not been issued until Tuesday, many shop owners in South Delhi trode cautiously. All 38 meat shops at the INA Market were shut Tuesday morning, said Ramesh Bhutani, president, INA Market Traders’ Association.

“The traders came to meet me in the afternoon. Since we did not get any official order, I asked them to open,” Bhutani said. Shops at the market also supply to hotels, and that supply could be hit if they are not allowed to open, he added.

Jaswant Singh was among the meat shop owners who kept shutters down in the morning, but opened after the meeting with the president of the association. “We opened in the evening. The stock will go bad otherwise and lead to huge losses. We’re still not sure about what to do tomorrow,” he said.

Krishan Kumar, who chose to keep his shop closed all day, said they had read in the papers that those opening their shops would face a penalty or get their licences cancelled.

“If we were told in advance, we wouldn’t have stocked up on meat. I have stock worth nearly Rs 2 lakh. The workers who help with chopping meat or cleaning will lose their daily wage of at least Rs 500 per day if the market has to shut,” he said.

Meat shops at INA market are open all week, even on Tuesdays, when meat shops in other parts of the city are usually shut.

Ashok Bajaj, who owns a fish store and two meat shops at the market, which were all shut Tuesday, said losses would be immense if they have to shut during Navratri — from April 2 to 11. “Labourers will lose out on daily wages as well,” he said.

Shop owners gathered in groups at the market, discussing the situation and trying to decide if they can lift the shutters on Wednesday. The meat comes from the Ghazipur slaughterhouse, which is also shut on Tuesday, said Mohammad Ibrahim, whose store was open but without much stock. Each trader might purchase anything between 20 kg to 50 kg for sale, he said.

At market 2 in CR Park, nearly all of the 20 shops are usually closed on Tuesdays, said Aurobinda Das, who runs a fish stall. “We are not sure if we can open tomorrow. We learnt about what the Mayor said when customers called us and asked us about the closure. We have not received any official notice yet. If meat shops are asked to shut, does that also include fish? It’s a clean market, and we are not close to a temple,” he said.

Shishir Hajra, who owns an establishment at the market, said: “I usually open the shop on Tuesdays. I found out about this when I came here in the morning, and decided to keep it closed today.”

During Navratri, sales are slow anyway, said traders at both markets. While Bhutani estimates that sales fall at the INA market by about 40 per cent during Navratri, Krishan Kumar pegged it at about 25 per cent less than normal.

Meat stores at Hauz Khas and Jamia Nagar, meanwhile, were open. Mohammad Junaid, who runs a meat shop in Jamia Nagar, said: “We usually shut only on Fridays.”

Mohammad Amanullah, who runs a chicken and mutton shop at Jamia Nagar, said: “Till the procedure is followed and a circular is issued, shops can’t be asked to shut. The shops here were open today.”

Haseen, who runs Kallu meat shop at Hauz Khas, said that the establishment was open on Tuesday. “We’ll have to see about tomorrow, but no order was received today.”