Members of the Hindu Raksha Dal forcefully shut down KFC and Nazeer Foods outlets in Ghaziabad’s Vasundhara area on July 17, 2025, insisting that all non-vegetarian food sales stop during the Hindu holy month of Sawan and Kanwar Yatra.
The group claimed that the sight and smell of meat close to pilgrimage routes hurt devotees’ religious sentiments, submitting a memorandum for a meat-sale ban in a 100–200 metre radius of Yatra paths.
Police registered a suo motu FIR against unidentified protestors for disturbing public order and are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those involved. No injuries were reported, but the incident has triggered debate on balancing religious sensitivities and business freedoms.
‘Respect Faith or Rights?’: Protests Escalate Outside Eateries
On Thursday afternoon, nearly two dozen Hindu Raksha Dal activists, waving saffron flags and shouting “Jai Shri Ram” and “Har Har Mahadev,” stormed KFC and Nazeer Foods in Vasundhara.
Viral videos show protestors confronting staff, demanding that shutters be pulled down, while a female employee tried, unsuccessfully, to reason with them. In interviews, group leader Pinky Chaudhary asserted that every outlet on Kanwar Yatra routes “must serve vegetarian dishes only or remain closed during Sawan” to show respect for lakhs of devotees fasting and observing dietary restrictions.
A spokesperson stated, “When lakhs of people are immersed in devotion, it is necessary to honour their faith by avoiding things that can offend religious feelings”.
Police Response and Community Fallout
The forceful shutdown sparked panic among customers and employees, though no violence or injuries were reported. Ghaziabad police responded by registering a suo motu FIR under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and imposing Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for disturbing order and flouting administrative instructions.
DCP Trans-Hindon, Nimish Patil, said, “We are in the process of identifying the accused involved in the incident,” and confirmed video footage from the outlets is being reviewed.
Officials appealed for legal remedies over mob action, reiterating that public order would be enforced without bias. Neither KFC nor the affected staff issued public statements by Friday afternoon.
A Larger Flashpoint: Faith, Food, and Public Space
This confrontation comes amid heightened sensitivities during the month of Sawan, a time when many Hindus follow strict vegetarianism and Kanwar Yatra footfall increases dramatically.
Protestors insist visible displays of meat food offend religious sensibilities, while critics argue that such actions infringe on the rights of other communities and disrupt business in a pluralistic society.
The incident has rekindled the familiar debate: should a majority’s religious practices dictate public commerce, especially when India’s cities are sites of varied faith and food habits?
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Enforcing personal beliefs through threats or coercion undermines the spirit of coexistence at the heart of Indian democracy. Celebrating differences and respecting all faiths must go hand in hand with upholding individual freedom and lawful business.
Maintaining peace means dialogue, not intimidation, and it is incumbent upon administration and civil society to prevent vigilantism whatever the reason. How should communities and authorities respond to ensure both religious harmony and fundamental rights for all?
