Recently, the BJP ruled South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) ordered a ban on displaying raw or cooked meat in food stalls and shelves. The proposal holds for both raw and cooked meat of all kinds displayed by shop owners right outside their shops.
This resolution was pressed by Councillors Raj Dutt and Nandini Sharma at the SDMC House Meeting. They said the non vegetarian food items on display affected the sentiments of vegetarian people.
The Leader of the House Shika Rai approved the proposal. She stated the concern of the Councillors are hygiene and hurting sentiments of vegetarian people. Shika Rai said, “It has been observed that shops displaying non vegetarian outside their premises attracts dogs and raise hygiene issue. Besides, it is also about hurting the sentiments of people who are vegetarian.”
The Proposal stated, “If restaurant owners are found displaying non vegetarian items in public, action against them should be taken as per the Municipal Law.”
A Spokesperson from SDMC said, “It was a private member resolution originally moved by a Councillor from Kakrola village in Najafgarh Zone in the Health Committee meeting. The committee then moved it to the SDMC House, which then approved it.” He further said, “Since it was a private member resolution, the proposal would now be sent to the Commissioner to be examined, if it is in accordance with the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act.”
The Congress Councillor and Party Leader in SDMC House Abhishek Dutt said, “This is an interference in people’s personal lives. Just because the BJP has the majority in the House it cannot make such dictatorial decisions. If it’s related to hygiene they should challan those flouting rules. What is the need for bringing in such a blanket ban.”
The Indian Medical Association objected to the shelve meat proposal raised by the BJP. The IMA President K. K. Agarwal stated any food has to be hygienic irrespective of vegetarian or non vegetarian. Agarwal said, “We do not find any rationale behind the move that prohibits the display of only non vegetarian food outside shops, restaurants. If contamination of food is the concern then why keep out vegetarian food and snacks out of this order.”
A restaurant owner in South Delhi said the shelve meat move is fine from the perspective of hygiene. He further said the BJP ruled Civic body should offer a solution for the eateries on how it should be displayed instead of proposing a ban.
