"Bid to polarise, fool people...": SP leader ST Hasan criticises demand to close meat shops during Navratri

Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh) [India], September 22 (ANI): Samajwadi Party leader ST Hasan on Monday said that the demand to close non-veg shops during Navratri is a clear "bid to polarise and fool people" along religious lines.
The SP leader mentioned that the "country belongs to everyone" and no one should have the right to restrict people's food choices.
"This country belongs to everyone...Not just Muslims but even Christians and Sikhs consume non-veg. How can you stop anyone from consuming it during Navratri or Kanwar Yatra? Who are you to do that? Do Hindus not consume non-veg during Navratri and Kanwar Yatra?" the SP leader told ANI here.
Criticising the demand, he questioned why five star hotels that serve meat have not been asked to stop, while other shops are being asked to close shop during the festival.

"But since you have to polarise votes, indulge in Hindu-Muslim issues and fool people, and blackmail on religious lines, they have done this. But why do you not stop the sale of meat in five-star hotels? Why do you not stop the sale of non-veg there? On one hand, there is devotion and on the other, there is business. India is the second-largest global exporter of beef. So, what is this drama?" he asked
Delhi BJP MLA Karnail Singh has written to Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta asking for meat to not be sold in the national capital for the next nine days.
"This is the country of the Sanatanis, and now Western civilisation will have to understand that our faith deserves respect too. Companies like McDonald's, KFC, Domino's, and Burger King have contacted us. It's not that they're against our culture, but they need to understand our faith. I have already discussed this with everyone, including the government and the organisation. Meat will not be sold in Delhi for nine days," the BJP MLA told ANI.
Shardiya Navratri is a vibrant and sacred Hindu festival that spans nine nights, celebrating the divine feminine energy embodied by Goddess Durga. Observed in the lunar month of Ashwin, this festival is marked by fervent worship, elaborate rituals, and cultural performances. The festival is being celebrated across the country with grandeur and fervour, with devotees flocking to temples and offering prayers to Maa Durga.
Each day is dedicated to a different form of the goddess, symbolising various aspects of strength, compassion, and wisdom. Devotees engage in fasting, singing devotional songs, and participating in traditional dances, such as Garba and Dandiya, creating a joyful atmosphere. (ANI)