Navratri: 500 meat shops shut in Gurgaon, some under pressure

Meat shops in Sadar Bazar. (Express photo by Manoj Kumar/Files)

In light of Navratri, which falls between September 21 and 29, the Shiv Sena and the Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Kranti Dal have taken to the streets to ensure that meat shops in Gurgaon remain closed to “respect religious sentiments”. Both parties had earlier submitted requests to the district administration, asking that meat shops be closed for the festival. In Greater Noida, including parts of Badalpur and Shaberi, members of Gau Raksha Dal allegedly tried to shut down meat shops, police said, adding that they are yet to receive a complaint.

In the request submitted to the Gurgaon Deputy Commissioner on September 19, the Shiv Sena stated, “These shops create a lot of issues for people… there is also the danger of anti-social elements ruining religious harmony. It is our request that meat shops be closed as a sign of respect for religious beliefs… If someone… keeps meat shops open, the Shiv Sena will protest and shut the shops.”

A similar request, submitted by the Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Kranti Dal on September 13, reiterated the warning: “We request that the administration mark these illegal shops selling meat and restrict their sale.” But with no response from the authorities, political activists on Thursday claimed they had shut around 500 shops across the city. While heavy rainfall and preparations for the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram polls kept workers at bay on Friday, office bearers of the two parties said they will resume the task in the coming days.

“We closed 150-200 shops on Thursday. We could not go out on Friday as we were preparing for Sunday’s MCG elections. But we will conduct another round of the city next week to ensure shops remain closed,” said Chetan Sharma, Haryana general secretary of the Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Kranti Dal.

Shiv Sena district president Gautam Saini said, “Although 50% of the shops remained closed of their own accord, we closed around 250-300 shops in both old and new Gurgaon. Depending on the weather, we will check on shops again tomorrow.”

Officials, however, said they have not received any formal complaint. Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh and Commissioner of Police Sandeep Khirwar said “prompt” action will be taken if anyone approaches them with such a complaint.