Meat shops in the Indian capital, Delhi, have been closed for three days after civic officials asked them to remain shut for Navratri - a Hindu festival observed over nine days. Mayors of south and east districts claimed that people had complained that they did not like seeing meat being cut in the open. But the move has riled many who have taken to social media to express outrage-- since Hinduism is only one of five of the major religions practiced in India, and critics say the closing of meat shops is illegal, as it violates India's pluralism.
During the nine-day festival, devout Hindus usually fast or abstain from eating meat, and even avoid using garlic, onions and certain spices in their food. The Indian capital is governed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party which has not issued any official orders asking meat shops to shut. However, the mayors who instituted the closures belong to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Their move has drawn sharp criticism online with some pointing out that someone's choice to abstain from meat should not infringe on another's freedom to eat meat or earn a livelihood.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah reacted to the announcement asking if it was okay to ban every non-Muslim resident or tourist in Muslim-majority areas from eating in public during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. Others asked why the sale and purchase of onions and garlic were not banned during this period, saying "Why stop at just meat?"
One Twitter user said: "Meat will continue to be served in hotels. Online vendors will continue to deliver meat. But the Hindu sentiment will be hurt by the meat shops run by poor Muslim vendors."
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