I am a vegetarian myself but still strongly believe that it is none of governments business to interfere into the eating habits of the people at times of festivities. India is a multi-linguistic society having people from all race and religion. Each have their own tradition as well as eating habits and banning sale of non-veg food items is undemocratic as well as uncalled for. Such diktats is not good for communal harmony as well and needs to be avoided at all cost.
Government has other more important issues to handle like security of citizens, checking inflation, building infrastructure, governance, external affairs etc. The day to day administration of the country takes a hit if non-issues like what to eat are brought to the forefront. Courts in our country too should not entertain such matters and must not unnecessarily put pressure on the armed forces to enforce orders that are illogical and unnecessary.
People should be mature enough to maintain public decorum and we don’t need the government and the courts to tell us what we need to wear or eat or for that matter how we celebrate each other’s festivals!
S. N. Kabra
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
