After the Uttar Pradesh government came under heavy criticism for cracking down on slaughter houses in the state, alleged members of the Shiv Sena on Wednesday forced shut over 300 meat shops, including a KFC outlet in Gurugram for Navratri, reported Hindustan Times. The report added that the Shiv sainiks also want the meat shops to remain shut every Tuesday, apparently Hindus don’t eat meat on that day.

Ritu Raj, who is supposedly the district spokesperson of Shiv Sena, told Hindustan Times, “A number of Hindus keep fast on Navratri and on Tuesday of every week. It does not feel good to see meat being sold and served on these days. Most of shopkeepers have supported the move and we consulted those who resisted.” He also claimed that most of these shops don’t have licences to operate.

According to India Today, these men assembled at Palam Vihar and targeted shops in Surat Nagar, Ashok Vihar, Sector 5, 9, Pataudi Chowk, Jacobpura, Sadar Bazaar, Khandsa Anaj Mandi, bus stand and Sector 14 market. Muslim dhabas and meat markets were also forced to shut.

Meanwhile, meat traders in Ghaziabad went on an indefinite strike on Tuesday against the district administration’s order to shut down meat shops. The administration had ordered the closure of the meat shops three days ago after the new BJP government took office in Uttar Pradesh.

“As our families started starving for food and other necessary items, we decided to go on strike outside the collector’s office,” said Yaad Ilahi Quereshi, president of the Meat Traders Association. Quereshi, who owns a shop outside New Ghaziabad railway station, said he has a licence from the municipal corporation.

But two days ago, the Kavi Nagar police station in-charge ordered him to shut his shop. He said while he complied with the order, no officer had come to verify his documents and police had not allowed him to reopen the shop.

“Our demands are that those who posses valid license should be allowed to sell meat,” he said. Ghaziabad District Magistrate Nidhi Kesarwani said no shop would be allowed to sell meat in the open.

She said a mechanism was being put in place for a single window clearance for license seekers. The official said the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered, three years ago, the closure of meat shops which violate rules. But these could not be enforced. “The five mechanised slaughter houses in Ghaziabad are not being being closed but 21 illegal butcher houses have been closed,” she said.