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Andal (West Bengal): The saffron brigade issued a directive to all fish and meat shops in Andal, an industrial town in Paschim Bardhaman, West Bengal, to remain closed for two days during the Chhath Puja celebrations, on October 26 and 27. On Sunday evening, BJP workers went around Andal’s north and south markets and issued threats to shut down meat shops. 

The incident has caused widespread concern in the town and the people are agitated. People also protested against the directive and on Monday, shopkeepers opened their fish and meat shops despite the threat.

In the recent past, the same directive had been issued in Digha and Nabadwip markets. During the inauguration of the Jagannath Temple in Digha this year, an order was issued that no one should consume non-vegetarian food on that day. 

Later, during the Holi festival, the Trinamool Congress-run Nabadwip municipality issued a directive to close down all non-vegetarian shops. The administration has remained virtually silent about it. 

Andal market during Chhath Puja, West Bengal. Photo: By arrangement.

Locals allege that they, along with the police, were “covering up for someone”. And now, the BJP has issued the same directive in Andal.

On October 25, Rakhal Chandra Das, the president of BJP’s Raniganj Mandal-4, wrote a letter on the party’s letterhead to the officer-in-charge of Andal police station, requesting them to take necessary steps to ensure that fish or meat is not sold in Andal south market during Chhath Puja. 

The letter justified the ban by stating that Chhath devotees........

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