‘Closing meat shops during PM’s visit is fascism’: Former Karnataka HC judge Nagamohan Das

Former Karnataka High Court judge HN Nagamohan Das on Friday, November 13, criticised the closure of meat shops in parts of Bengaluru’s Anekal taluk ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. He called the directive an instance of fascism and an infringement of citizens’ fundamental rights.

“The right to food is a fundamental right. You eat what you want, let them eat what they want, and let me eat what I want. Who are you to come and dictate what we eat?” Nagamohan Das said.

His remarks came after the Bengaluru Urban district administration ordered the closure of meat shops within the limits of Jigani Town Municipal Council and Kallubalu Gram Panchayat in Anekal taluk from 6 am on November 12 to 4 pm on November 13. The order was issued ahead of Modi’s visit to the area for the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Prashanti Kutiram.

Speaking at a symposium on ‘Decentralisation and Planned Development’ organised by the Karnataka State Policy and Planning Commission at Gandhi Bhavan, Nagamohan Das questioned the rationale behind linking the Prime Minister’s visit to restrictions on food choices.

“I don't know whether you like it or not; the Prime Minister visiting is a matter of pride for us and for our state. Let him come! But why should meat shops be closed? If liquor shops were closed, I might be somewhat satisfied with it. How do you link the closing of mutton shops to the visit of the Prime Minister? If this isn't fascism, then what else is it?” he asked.

The symposium was organised to mark the birth centenary of former Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde.

The November 10 order, issued by Bengaluru Urban Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate P.S. Kantharaju, invoked Section 163(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, citing security concerns. The police sought the restriction, stating that anti-social elements might disrupt law and order during the Prime Minister’s visit.

The retired judge also warned against the return of fascist tendencies in different forms, recalling the sacrifices made to defeat fascism in the country's democratic history.

“It was as a result of all these sacrifices that we pushed back fascism. But today, we are standing in a situation where that very same fascism is attacking us under different names and in different forms,” he said.

Emphasising that dietary freedom must be respected irrespective of individual food preferences, he said people should be allowed to make their own choices. “Nobody is denying that there are vegetarians. Respect them,” he said.

The closure order had also drawn criticism from CPI(ML) Liberation, which condemned the restrictions on the sale of meat and liquor, calling them an infringement of constitutional rights.

In a statement, the party said the order violated people's rights to personal liberty, freedom of religion and conscience, and the freedom to choose their food and livelihood. It also questioned the Congress government in Karnataka for issuing such a directive despite its stated commitment to constitutional freedoms.

The party alleged that the restriction reflected attempts to impose a Brahminical dietary code on religious minorities, Dalits and Adivasis, and demanded that the order be withdrawn.