BHUBANESWAR/JEYPORE: In an order that has gone viral and drawn sharp reactions, the Koraput district collector has issued a directive prohibiting sale of non-vegetarian items across the district on the Republic Day.
The order issued by collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan directed all the tehsildars, block development officers and executive officers of the district to issue a notification prohibiting sale of meat, chicken, egg, fish and other non-vegetarian items on January 26 marking the Republic Day celebration.
The order, however, did not explain the rationale behind the ban on the sale of non-vegetarian items. It was also unclear if the ban applied to non-vegetarian food in eateries and hotels across the district on the Republic Day. The order went viral on social media and drew sharp reactions from netizens. Some wanted to know how the government can impose restriction on food choices of people.
“Explain this arbitrariness ironically for the commemoration of the day when the Constitution was enacted! Where is your Constitution morality and what about the infringement of the Fundamental Rights? It’s not about just one day, but about the rights,” said one Shobhangam Mohanty on the X handle.
Another X user posted: “Instead of providing people with good infrastructure and corruption free facilities - the focus is on what we eat and what wear - the Indian bureaucracy is our biggest failure! Our tax payer money with no return - sab bhagwan bharose!”
Sources said, the order was based on the district administration’s Republic Day preparatory meeting a month ago when it was discussed.
Later speaking to mediapersons, Mahajan said the decision to impose the ban on non-vegetarian items on Republic Day was based on the demand of a larger section of people during the preparedness meeting. “The administration has taken this decision in response to public demand,” he said.
On January 7, public representatives and other members unanimously agreed that non-vegetarian items should not be sold on Republic Day to maintain sanctity and uphold Gandhian ideology on the auspicious occasion.