Rampurhat Municipality Orders Meat Shops Closed for Chhath Puja, Sparking Controversy

Rampurhat, November 14 (Daily Kiran) : The Rampurhat Municipality in West Bengal‘s Birbhum district has issued an order to close roadside meat shops for two days in observance of Chhath Puja. This directive has led to discontent among local traders and sparked a political controversy.

Municipal officials announced that the order, signed by the municipality’s chairman, was issued on Friday. It specifically targets three meat shops located along Court Lane in the city.

The notice states, “The Rampurhat Municipality informs you that the shops will remain closed on Sunday and Monday (November 15 and 16, 2026) for Chhath Puja.” Additionally, shopkeepers are instructed to cover any displayed meat with red cloth on other days.

Local meat vendors have expressed concerns about potential financial losses. They argue that Chhath Puja has been celebrated peacefully in the city for years without any previous orders to close shops.

One vendor noted, “Sundays are usually busy for us, and closing the shop will hurt our sales.” He added, “We also supply meat to a restaurant, and our regular customers visit on Sundays. If they had asked us to operate discreetly, we could have managed. But since the municipality has issued this order, we must comply.”

The Congress party has criticized the directive, accusing the municipality of engaging in divisive politics. Former Congress MLA Milton Rashid claimed that the order was issued to appease the BJP.

Rashid stated, “After the elections, most councilors are maintaining ties with the BJP to secure their positions. This is the first instance where the municipality chair has issued such an order to align with the BJP government. People here celebrate every festival together. This is simply a part of divisive politics.”

In defense of the decision, Rampurhat Municipality Chairman Soumen Bhakta clarified that the order applies solely to the three shops where meat is openly cut, as they are located on a route frequently used by worshipers.

Bhakta explained, “These shops openly butcher meat. Therefore, they have been ordered to close for two days of Chhath Puja. This decision was made to respect everyone’s sentiments.”

Responding to the opposition’s criticism, state BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar stated, “If they believe this is not an important issue, they can approach the court. The doors of the court are open for everyone.”