Meat and liquor shops on key Ayodhya road to shut, those affected say resettle

Developed over a year ago, the 13-km-long Ram Path starts from Sadatganj and leads to Lata Mangeshkar Chowk in Ayodhya. With shops on either side, it had a makeover when the road was widened. It also links to the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Path, which leads to the Ram temple site, and the Bhakti Path that connects Shringar Ghat to Hanuman Garhi.

On Thursday, the executive committee of the Ayodhya Municipal Corporation passed a resolution banning liquor and meat shops along Ram Path, citing the road’s religious significance.

Ayodhya Mayor Girish Pati Tripathi said the decision to ban liquor and meat shops along Ram Path was taken in view of the religious significance of the stretch.

“Ram Path is associated with the name of Lord Ram and has its own dignity and sanctity. Therefore, permitting the sale of liquor and meat along this route is not justified,” he said, adding that the resolution was passed unanimously with support from all committee members.

Tripathi said advertisements of cigarettes, bidis, gutka and innerwear will also be prohibited in Ayodhya Dham, the area around the Ram Janmabhoomi temple.

“In an area like Ayodhya Dham, commercial promotion of such products is inappropriate. Hence, a decision has been taken to prohibit such advertisements in these zones,” he said, adding that liquor and meat shops are already banned in Ayodhya Dham.

He said the resolution to ban liquor sales along Ram Path has been formally communicated to the Ayodhya District Magistrate who will take a call on its implementation. On the ban on meat shops, a letter will be sent to the department concerned for necessary action, he said.

District Excise Officer, Ayodhya, Suresh Chandra Mishra said he is aware of the municipal corporation resolution but the department has not yet received any official communication.

“Once we receive the proposal, it will be forwarded to the state government for a final decision,” Mishra said.

Ayodhya Vyapar Mandal president Sushil Jaiswal said the district administration should make arrangements for meat and liquor shop owners before implementing the municipal corporation’s resolution.

“A designated area should be identified where meat shop owners can relocate their businesses from Ram Path. As for liquor shop owners, the state government should decide on their relocation,” Jaiswal said.

The decision has left the affected shopkeepers worried.

“Ever since we heard about the resolution, we have been worrying about our future. My entire family depends on this shop. Along with daily expenses, we also have to arrange funds for the wedding of my two sisters,” said Mohammed Aqib, one of the affected meat shop owners.

Last year, the Varanasi Municipal Corporation also passed a resolution banning the sale of meat within a two-kilometre radius of the Vishwanath temple in the Chowk area of Varanasi.