GHAIZABAD, India – July 18, 2025
KFC Shut Down – In a move that has sparked widespread debate, members of the Hindu Raksha Dal (HRD), a right-wing group, on Thursday forcibly shut down a KFC outlet in Ghaziabad’s Indirapuram area, demanding a halt to the sale of non-vegetarian food during the ongoing holy month of Sawan and the Kanwar Yatra. Similar protests also targeted a local eatery named Nazir.
Videos of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media, showed HRD members carrying saffron flags, chanting slogans like “Jai Shree Ram” and “Har Har Mahadev,” and confronting restaurant staff. In one video, protesters were seen pulling down the shutter of the KFC outlet and posing in front of the closed storefront. Another clip showed them entering the restaurant premises and insisting that operations be shut down or that only vegetarian food be served during the month of Shravan.
Pinky Chaudhary, the chief of the Hindu Raksha Dal, stated, “Our message is clear. We are asking all non-vegetarian food outlets to refrain from serving such food during the Kanwar Yatra. If they want to remain open, they should serve vegetarian items only.” The group cited religious sentiments, stating that the sale and consumption of meat during Sawan, a sacred period for devotees of Lord Shiva who often observe fasts and abstain from non-vegetarian food, is disrespectful.
The protests come amidst the annual Kanwar Yatra, a pilgrimage where devotees carry Ganga water to offer at Shiva temples. While some localities and districts in Uttar Pradesh have previously ordered the closure of meat shops along designated yatra routes, there is no official state-wide ban on the sale of non-vegetarian food during Sawan in all areas.
Taking note of the incident, Nimish Patil, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Trans-Hindon, stated that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been imposed in the district, aimed at maintaining public order. He confirmed that a suo motu First Information Report (FIR) has been registered against 10 unidentified individuals under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant. The police are in the process of identifying the accused involved in the incident through video footage.
The incident has drawn criticism from various quarters, with opposition parties emphasizing that food choices are personal and should not be dictated by such groups. The debate highlights the ongoing tension between religious sentiments and individual freedoms in public spaces. As of Friday, there has been no official statement from KFC’s management regarding the incident.
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