Pandit Body Calls for Equal Respect for All Faiths
Suhail Khan
Srinagar, June 12: The Kashmir Pandit Sangharsh Samiti (KPSS) has expressed grave concern over the unchecked proliferation of beef shops in Kashmir and the administration’s silence in regulating them. The organization criticized the government’s inaction, questioning what it termed “selective secularism,” where liquor sales are banned but beef continues to be sold openly—even in areas frequented by Hindu tourists.
In a detailed statement titled “Beef, Liquor & The Death of Kashmiri Secularism,” KPSS President Sanjay K. Tickoo as per Kashmir Despatch highlighted the discomfort faced not only by the minority Kashmiri Hindu community but also by the large number of Hindu tourists visiting the Valley annually.
Tickoo argued that while banning liquor aligns with certain religious and social values, the state’s silence on beef sales exposes a double standard in secular governance, reflecting what he called “deep-seated political hypocrisy.”
The KPSS pointed out that before the abrogation of Article 370 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019, bovine slaughter and beef possession were criminalized under Sections 298-A to 298-D of the Ranbir Penal Code, carrying stringent penalties, including imprisonment. The repeal of these laws, the group contended, removed crucial legal safeguards that once upheld communal harmony.
The statement raised particular concerns over unlicensed slaughterhouses and beef outlets, noting their unchecked growth despite lacking proper registration or government oversight. The KPSS alleged that this expansion occurs under the tacit approval of authorities, whose silence amounts to complicity.
Tickoo questioned why the religious sentiments of one community are prioritized—evident in liquor bans—while those of Hindus are disregarded by permitting beef sales. He warned that such selective governance not only undermines the principle of equal respect but also risks harming Kashmir’s tourism industry, which heavily relies on Hindu pilgrims and visitors.
The organization also flagged the absence of regulatory measures to ensure that beef or its derivatives are not used in food served to Hindu tourists at hotels, restaurants, and roadside eateries.
The KPSS accused the government of hollowing out Kashmiriyat (Kashmir’s traditional syncretic ethos) and reducing secularism to a mere slogan. It warned that appeasing one community while ignoring another’s concerns is not secularism but discrimination—a betrayal of constitutional values.
Demanding immediate action, the KPSS called for clear food labeling, cooking protocols respecting dietary restrictions, and regular kitchen audits in commercial food establishments. It also urged policy reforms, including mandatory disclosure of meat usage in public dining spaces, especially in high-tourist areas.
Tickoo affirmed that the KPSS would no longer remain silent, urging the Union and UT governments to implement enforceable guidelines ensuring fairness, transparency, and religious dignity for all communities.
