A few boards in the name of Hindu Aikya Vedi demanding shutdown of non-vegetarian hotels near temples in Kozhikode district of Kerala have appeared on Monday.
“What is the need for a non-vegetarian hotel in between Kanyaka Parameshwari temple, Renuka Mariamman temple and Bala Subramanya temple.
Devotees should react against the hotels that taint the purity of shops which sell the Pooja materials and of temples that buy Pooja materials.
We expect cooperation from all devotees in protests held under the leadership of Hindu Aikya Vedi and temple committees,” reads the board.
Aikya Vedi State President Shashikala told The News Minute that there were discussions about a hotel functioning in the middle of these temples.
“Rather than a protest, it is a matter of respecting other beliefs. We know that across Kerala, placing flags in front of Mosques is not done. It is out of respect towards a worship place. There are no such rules, but all follow that. So this issue of non-vegetarian hotels near temples can also be considered similarly. People should withdraw from such activities rather than being compelled to do so,” she said.
As per reports, a restaurant run by Kozhikode Chelannur native Haridas on Thali road has been objected to, by the Aikya Vedi. Haridas and another person earlier ran a restaurant at the same place.
Later, that building was closed for renovation and when Haridas was about to reopen his restaurant, the boards appeared.
Ironically, Aikya Vedi has not raised any objections to two other non-vegetarian restaurants located just 20 metres away from Haridas’s restaurant.