Shatrughan Sinha calls for nationwide ban on non-vegetarian food
What's the story
Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament and veteran actor Shatrughan Sinha has called for a nationwide ban on all non-vegetarian food items, especially beef. He admitted that India's religious diversity could be a hurdle in enforcing such a rule. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of uniformity in laws across the country, referring to Uttarakhand's successful implementation of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as an example.
Lawful discrepancies
Sinha highlighted inconsistencies in current beef consumption laws
Sinha humorously highlighted the contradictions in India's existing laws on beef consumption. He told reporters outside the Parliament, "Waha khao toh yummy, par humare North India mein khao toh mummy (It is okay to eat it in the northeast, but not in North India)." The veteran actor stressed that a ban should be imposed uniformly, not just in certain parts of the country.
Consultation call
Sinha called for all-party meeting before drafting UCC provisions
Speaking to ANI, the 78-year-old also discussed UCC. "UCC must be there in the country, and I am sure everyone will agree with me. But there are many fine prints and loopholes in this." Sinha underscored the importance of an all-party meeting before drafting UCC provisions. He said everyone should be consulted for their opinions and thoughts. He warned that the UCC should not be looked at as an election/vote bank strategy but should be handled with care and caution.
UCC progress
Meanwhile, Gujarat CM announced committee for UCC draft preparation
Meanwhile, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced the formation of a five-member committee to prepare the draft for the UCC. The committee is chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Ranjana Desai. This comes after Uttarakhand became the first Indian state to implement the UCC on January 27.