SDMC’s ‘non-veg’ food display ban: Here are other instances of food policing in India

Here are some of the instances against non-veg food:

SDMC ban on display of ‘non-veg food’

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is under BJP’s control in the national capital, has proposed that all non-vegetarian food items cannot be displayed out in the open and should be kept inside shelves. The proposal was brought in during the last House meeting on December 20, and approved by Leader of House Shikha Rai. Rai said that the move was proposed to “maintain hygiene and to respect people’s sentiments since not everyone eats non-vegetarian food”.

Currently, the proposal is awaiting SDMC commissioner P K Goel’s approval, who will examine if the move is in accordance with the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act before making it a rule, Rai said. The proposal — a private member’s resolution — was first moved during a Health Committee meeting by Raj Dutt, a councillor from Kakrola village in the Najafgarh zone. “Seekh kebabs being displayed outside may get contaminated due to pollution. Also, there are many vegetarian people who feel bad seeing these items,” said Dutt.

South Delhi includes areas like Greater Kailash, Lajpat Nagar, Hauz Khas, Defence Colony and New Friends Colony. Skewers of meat and kebabs are a common sight at outdoor stalls and outside markets in these areas. The resolution is reported to come up for confirmation in the next session of the House on January 3.

Air India non-veg ban on domestic flights

The national carrier Air India had suspended serving non-vegetarian meals on its domestic flights in the economy class from July. The argument given by Air India at that time was that they had observed a trend where, over time, lesser passengers were preferring non-vegetarian food, which resulted in wastage of these meals on-board. “Air India has taken a conscious decision not to have non-vegetarian meals in economy class on its domestic flights to reduce wastage, reduce cost, and improve catering service,” airline’s spokesperson G Prasad Rao had said in July. This decision was taken with the expectation that it would cut costs to the tune of Rs 8-10 crore per annum.

Biryani centres in Haryana’s Mewat raided following beef ban

In Haryana’s Mewat District, kiosks selling biryani were forced to shut down. Raids were conducted by the police after they received complaints that biryani containing beef (cow meat), was being sold in Mewat. In 2015, the Haryana government passed a law that made the sale of beef a non-cognisable offence.

IIT Madras students roughed-up for taking part in ‘beef fest’

In March, several students of IIT Madras were roughed up for taking part in the beef-fest organised in the campus. A group of 70 to 80 students held the beef festival on May 28 evening evening to demonstrate against the Centre’s notification on cattle sale rules. In a similar incident, students in Hyderabad’s Osmania University were arrested for organising a beef festival in the varsity.

Vijay Rupani’s resolution to make Gujarat ‘Shakahari’

In April, the Gujarat government amended the state’s Animal Preservation Bill to entail a maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a minimum of 10 years for cow slaughter after it was passed in the assembly in the absence of the Opposition Congress.

Speaking on the amendment, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that while he was “not against any food”, he wanted to make Gujarat “shakahari (vegetarian)”, “We do not want Jersey cows, but Gir and Kankreji cows instead,” he said.

Rupani also described Gujarat as a “unique state”, which followed the tenets of Mahatma Gandhi — “non-violence and truth”. “This is Gandhi’s Gujarat, Sardar’s (Vallabhbhai Patel) Gujarat and (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi’s Gujarat,” said Rupani. The passage of the Gujarat Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 2017 came eight months after seven Dalits were beaten by self-styled cow vigilantes for alleged cow slaughter in Una.