In the Sardhana area of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, there is still fear among the food vendors after the developments carried out by the Sangeet Som Sena in the past. Although the administration had taken action against the accused in the incident of vandalism and looting in the food cart, but now most of the shopkeepers selling nihari, korma, biryani are selling lentils and roti. However, the administration has clarified that there is no written order not to sell meat during Navratri.
Tasneem Ahmed was doing a good business of selling Nihari, Korma and Biryani for many years near the bus stand on Meerut Road in Sardhana, Uttar Pradesh. But since the day Navratri festival has started (from last 2nd April), he is selling only dal-roti. Tasneem explains that earlier also there was verbal order but now things have changed rapidly. Because now there is a scuffle with the shopkeepers. It’s all scary that’s why vegetarians are selling food.
Actually, Tasneem is referring to the incident in which people associated with Sangeet Som Sena vandalized a shopkeeper’s cart in the past. People associated with the army claimed that he was selling mutton biryani. Then the police took action and registered a case against the organization’s UP chief Sachin Khatik and ten others for trying to disturb communal peace. In fact, it was the Som Sena that had called for a ban on the sale of meat and non-vegetarian food in Sardhana during Navratri.
According to most of the food stall owners in Sardhana, they have suffered a lot in the last two years due to Corona. In this way, informal meat ban is getting more expensive. According to Tasneem, earlier he used to earn four to five thousand rupees per day, but now he is able to earn very little money by selling pulses and roti. According to local shopkeepers, this time Navratri and Ramzan started simultaneously, so the parcel going to homes during Ramzan has also stopped.
Some locals of Sardhana claim that this time even the butchers are refusing to supply meat to the households. Shahid Anjar, 70, says that this is probably the first time in my life that I am fasting without eating non-vegetarian food. Because this time everyone is scared to sell meat. Many people in the area were seen packing food for Iftari but they were told that non-veg items would be available only after Navratri.
The vendor who put up a stall next to the police booth in the city said that during Ramzan, we get bulk orders. But he does not want his food carts to be attacked. They say that members of the Som Sena keep a watch on them despite the police action. Whereas after the sabotage incident, SHO of Sardhana police station Laxman Verma had confirmed that there is no written order banning the sale of non-vegetarian dishes.
On this matter Sachin Khatik of Som Sena says, “We will continue to raise this issue. The sale of meat in the area will hurt sentiments. We have informed the police about this and now it is up to them to ensure peace in the area.” While the local residents of the city also appeared indifferent in this matter, they maintained that, we do not want peace in the area to be disturbed. It is a matter of few days, if the demand is followed then there will be no problem.