Right-wing group storms Ghaziabad eateries over sale of meat during Sawan
Visuals of the incident circulated widely on social media showed members of the outfit carrying saffron flags and chanting slogans such as 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Har Har Mahadev', while forcibly pulling down the shutter of the KFC outlet.
In the video, the group is seen entering the restaurant, confronting staff, and demanding that operations be stopped. 'All of these products should be banned immediately, we will not tolerate this in Sawan,' a protester is heard shouting.
Also read:Why should a vegetarian order from non-veg serving eatery if it hurts sentiments? Consumer panel says
Opposition parties in Uttar Pradesh criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the incident, holding it responsible for what they termed a deterioration in law and order.
'Such actions are a violation of the fundamental rights of citizens. When there is no ban, how can individuals storm a food chain and force it to shut down? It is a design to create disorder in society through groups that have become mainstream after the BJP assumed power. Holy occasions are being used to fuel tension on communal lines,' Shahnawaz Alam, national secretary, Congress, said.
VIDEO | Abhishek Srivastava, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Indirapuram, says, "A few youths created ruckus demanding a food outlet to close. Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot immediately and removed them. Normal operation at the outlet was ensured. A… pic.twitter.com/bnQBPZAe5A — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 18, 2025
The Samajwadi Party also condemned the protest. 'If the BJP or right-wing groups want a ban on meat sales, they should ask the government to close slaughterhouses and prohibit the sale of meat across India for one month during Sawan. Half of the slaughterhouses are run by BJP-linked people. Such unruly action in closing a food chain highlights a failure of governance,' party spokesperson Sunil Singh Yadav 'Sajan' said.
The incident also triggered debate on social media, with many users criticising the actions of the protestors.
Sawan, also known as Shravana, is considered a holy month in the Hindu calendar, particularly by devotees of Lord Shiva. Many observe fasts and refrain from consuming meat, alcohol, and even onion and garlic during this period. The Kanwar Yatra, a major pilgrimage, is also undertaken during this time.
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