Union Minister and Lok Janshakti Party (RV) chief Chirag Paswan has voiced strong opposition to the administrative orders imposing temporary bans on the sale of meat, fish, and eggs during Navratri in certain states. Speaking after an NDA meeting at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s residence, Paswan labeled such restrictions as “trash talk” and emphasized the need for political parties to refrain from interfering in matters of personal faith.
Paswan argued that these bans, enforced in BJP-ruled states like Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, disrupt communal harmony and distract from more pressing issues. “Faltu ki baaten hai ye sab (this is all trash talk). This is not required. For centuries, people of all religions have maintained brotherhood and lived simply,” he stated.
Highlighting the broader implications of such policies, Paswan asserted, “The day religious organizations stop protecting political parties and the day politicians or political parties stop interfering in matters of faith, nearly 90% of the problems would be resolved. The trouble happens when controversies emerge due to politics.”
The controversy stems from recent administrative decisions, such as the Maihar district administration’s ban on meat sales during Navratri under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) 2023. Similar restrictions were imposed in Uttar Pradesh, where the government banned meat sales within 500 meters of religious places during the nine-day festival.
Paswan’s remarks underscore the ongoing debate over the intersection of religion and politics in India, with calls for a more inclusive and secular approach to governance.
