While the run-up to Ugadi festival had seen Hindutva organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishat and Bajrang Dal launching a campaign urging Hindus not to buy ‘halal’ meat from Muslim traders, Sunday saw people celebrating “Varshadodaku” (a day of feasting) and shopping as usual for meat. Muslim traders said that their business was not hit by the campaign.
In the light of fear of law and order issues, Bengaluru police had made security arrangements from 4 a.m., but the day passed off peacefully despite meat shops being packed as every year, said the police. However, this year saw some shops advertising “Hindavi cut” or “jatka cut” to indicate that it was not halal meat.
Meanwhile, in Mysuru, several progressive thinkers and writers bought meat from Muslim traders to express solidarity with them and as a mark of protest against campaign by Hindutva groups. Writer Devanur Mahadeva and KRRS leaders were among those who bought meat from Muslim traders.
