50% meat shops in old Gurugram were already closed, those open were made to close: Shiv Sena

The local unit of the Shiv Sena activists took to the streets of Gurugram yesterday closing down meat shops for the Navratri festival.

The local outfits had earlier gone to the district administration with a petition that meat shops be shut during the Hindu festive season.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Ritu Raj said the party had submitted a memorandum to the district administration a week ago to issue an order for closure of shops selling meat during Navratri, but the administration had failed to take any steps in the direction.

"We had given a memorandum to the Gurugram administration demanding shutting down of illegal meat shops in view of Navratri, but the administration didn't take any step towards this. When we went out, 50 per cent of the shops in old Gurugram were already closed, those open were made to close by us," he added.

Justifying the vigilantism, Ritu Raj said they would continue doing so.

"It is inappropriate to hang meat outside shops where those on fast can see it. We will keep a vigil and ensure such shops are closed," he said.

According to reports, meat shops in areas such as Sector 9, Dundahera, Palam Vihar, near the old Gurgaon mosque, Rajiv Nagar, Sukhrali and Sikanderpur were targetted.

The Sena activists also demanded that all the shops selling meat, including the international food giant KFC, should be closed for such Hindu festivals and on all Tuesdays thereafter.