Right-wing groups launch campaigns against non-vegetarian eateries in NCR
As Navratri begins, right-wing groups have gone on a cleaning spree in NCR. Reports have come in that in Gurgaon, it is the Shiv Sena and Akhil Bhartiya Hindu Kranti Dal (ABHKD) that are pressurizing meat shops to down their shutters. Meanwhile in Greater Noida, Gau Raksha Hindu Dal is leading the movement: it has instructed eateries to remove non-vegetarian items from the menu.
The Sena and AKBHD take the lead
In Gurgaon, AKBHD and Sena had submitted requests to the administration to close meat shops during the festival to "respect religious sentiments". However, after no response, activists themselves shut around 500 shops, they claimed. The drive will continue in the coming days. No complaints have been received so far. Sena had shut down hundreds of shops in Gurgaon last year too, including KFC outlets.
This isn't the Gau Raksha Dal's first such drive
Meanwhile, the Gau Raksha Dal sent out several teams to locate and shut down shops serving non-vegetarian food in Noida and Ghaziabad. It had launched a similar campaign during the Kanwar Yatra earlier. Here too, no complaints have been lodged yet, but cops have warned of strict action if "anyone takes the law into their own hands". Section 144 was imposed in some parts.
SC urges government to take urgent steps
Earlier this month, the SC urged the government to take steps to check 'cow vigilantism' violence. Though PM Narendra Modi has spoken out against such incidents, attacks continue. According to IndiaSpend, since 2010, 29 people have died in 63 'gau raksha' attacks; 97% of them since 2014. The SC has asked for senior cops to be appointed in each district to supervise such incidents.
