Opposition parties, including Congress and Samajwadi Party, have criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the guidelines issued by the Delhi government ahead of Bakrid. The BJP government warned of strict legal action for sacrificing prohibited animals and violating public hygiene rules. Congress leader Pawan Khera expressed concern over the BJP’s motives, accusing them of trying to incite communal discord by unnecessarily introducing new regulations.
The Congress leaders emphasized that existing rules already govern the ritualistic sacrifice of animals during ‘qurbani’. They questioned the need for additional guidelines in Delhi and accused the BJP of using such controversies to divert attention from pressing issues. While supporting action against those breaking the law, they criticized the BJP for making inflammatory statements on religious matters instead of focusing on critical civic issues.
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma called for inclusive consultations with religious leaders before imposing one-sided guidelines. He highlighted the importance of consensus-building to prevent conflicts arising from unilateral decisions. Meanwhile, Shia Markazi Chand Committee President Syed Saif Abbas Naqvi defended the government’s guidelines, stressing the importance of adhering to legal restrictions on animal sacrifices during Bakrid.
