On the occasion of Bakrid, or Eid ul Azha, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been debating whether the Islamic festival, which involves ritual sacrifice of an animal, usually goat, should be celebrated in an eco-friendly manner, The Times of India reported.
Although party spokesperson Shrikant Sharma clarified his remarks on this matter were no more than an invitation to discuss it in greater depth, the political implications are hard to miss. In the last several months, the BJP and its associated organisations have been vocal about the ban on cow slaughter, which has lead to incidents of lynching, intimidation, assault and harassment.
In related news, The Indian Express reported that the Awadh unit of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRN), an organisation supported by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has decided to cut a 5-kg cake in the shape of a goat instead of actually killing an animal for Eid.
MRN workers have also allegedly pledged not to cook biryani at home, but serve dahi vada and sewaiyan to their guests. The co-convener of MRN, Hasan Kausar, told The Indian Express, "The Bakr-Eid festival spreads a message of humanity. We can sacrifice our children, too, for Allah but it is not right to kill a goat without any reason and eat its meat."
The national convener of the outfit, Mohd Afzal, however, denied any knowledge of such plans made by the Awadh unit.
Another report in the same paper pointed out that goats in Hyderabad had been put on antibiotics and intravenous drips for days preceding Eid. Most of the animals this year have been afflicted with cold and fever due to the damp weather in the city. With increasing awareness that only healthy animals should be sacrificed, Muslims in the city have been taking their sacrificial offerings to vets for medical check-up.
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