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Lucknow: A step aimed at promoting vegetarianism, CM Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has declared November 25 as “no non-veg day” to mark the birth anniversary of Sadhu TL Vaswani. All meat shops and slaughter houses will remain shut on the above mentioned date across the state, an official statement said. The government also asked the authorities to ensure that the order is strictly followed in the state.
In an effort to honor the legacy of Sadhu Vaswani, the government’s decision reflects its deep acceptance of Vaswani’s teachings. Known as Indian educationist who started the Mira Movement In Education and also established St. Mira’s School in Hyderabad, Sindh (now in Pakistan), ‘No Non-Veg Day’ reflects Vaswani’s emphasis on compassion towards animals and echoes his message of non-violence and vegetarianism.
A museum dedicated to his life was opened in Maharashtra’s Pune.
Sadhu Vaswani’s birthday on November 25 is acknowledged as International Meatless Day.
Sadhu Vaswani was the supporter of Mahatma Gandhi’s Non Cooperation movement and wrote various books including India’s Adventure, India In Chains, and others. His birthday is celebrated across the country as World Meatless Day.
The recent announcement came days after UP government prohibited on the production, storage, distribution and sale of food products with halal certification with immediate effect while exempting products manufactured for export.
Making the announcement, the state government alleged “malicious attempts” to discourage the use of products lacking a halal certificate not only seek “unfair financial benefits” but also form part of a “pre-planned strategy to sow class hatred, create divisions in society, and weaken the country” by “anti-national elements”.
After the restriction on Halal-certified products, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) conducted raids at multiple places to investigate food items. On November 22, an FSDA team conducted a raid on fast food giant McDonald’s outlet in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow as part of the state government’s latest crackdown on inauthentic Halal-certified products.
During the raid, the FSDA officials examined several food items and found Halal-certified products, specifically packaged wraps. Raids were also conducted in Lucknow’s Sahara Mall where eight companies were found selling Halal-certified products and cases were registered against them.
Mandatory closure of meat shop and slaughterhouse is not just a directive but a sign of respect for Vaswani’s philosophy. It serves as a means to encourage the adoption of a vegetarian lifestyle, at least for a day, among the residents of Uttar Pradesh. Reflecting the importance of this commemorative event, the UP government’s advisory emphasizes that the order should be strictly followed.
The state government has urged officials to ensure strict compliance with the order across Uttar Pradesh. The enforcement of the directive will be important in determining its impact on the food industry, consumer habits and the broader goal of promoting vegetarianism in the state.
