Administration should ensure we are not harassed : Meat sellers

Gurugram :
More than 20 Hindu outfits under the aegis of the Sanyukt Hindu Sangharsh Samiti have approached the district administration, demanding closure of meat shops in the city during nine-day Navratras.

The samiti submitted a memorandum to Deputy Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh. It said in view of the upcoming Navratras, the sentiments of Hindus should be respected.

The samiti also demanded a permanent closure of meat shops operating within a km of Sheetla Mata temple.

Last month, the Municipal Corporation had sealed a mosque in Sheetla Colony here as part of its sealing drive against illegal structures within a 300-metre radius of the Air Force ammunition depot.

Mahaveer Bhardwaj, the convener of the samiti, said: “Over the years, several illegal meat shops have come up around Sheetla Mata temple. Carcasses are put up outside the shops, hurting sentiments of lakhs of devotees visiting the temple. These shops should be shut down.”

He further said meat shops should be closed during Navratras. “We want the administration to get this done or we will have to take things in our hands,” he added.

Last year too, the city had witnessed a similar situation. The district unit of the Shiv Sena had forced 500 meat shops to be shut during the Navratras.

In March 2017, the Shiv Sena had targeted meat shops and several outlets selling non-vegetarian food, while the administration and police kept silent.

Vikram Singh of the Bharat Bachao Sangathan said, “There is permission for only 298 meat shops, but Gurugram has more than 2,000 illegal outlets.”

Meanwhile, meat sellers and restaurant owners refused to give in. They sought protection from the police and administration.

“We have licences and have been operating for the past 40 years. They issued a diktat, asking people not to rent us (Muslims) homes and shops. And now, they want to snatch our livelihood. The administration should ensure we are not harassed like last year,” said Hanif Ahmed, a meat seller in Sheetla Colony.