States Of The Nation

During the current budget session in the Gujarat assembly, the Congress wanted the BJp to explain ‘cultural nationalism’. And the most candid, though arbitrary, answer, perhaps, came from Bhavin Sheth, BJP MLA from Ellisbridge constituency, Ahmedabad, when he ordered the closure of all roadside joints located opposite IIM, Ahmedabad, serving non-vegetarian food. This move, incidentally, had the approval of minister of state for home Amit Shah.

The roadside kiosks attracted not just IIM students, but also outsiders who came for their delicious ‘chicken chilli fry’, ‘chicken chowmein’ and ‘chicken fried rice’. Now, paneer has replaced chicken and nobody is interested. It might seem illogical, but Sheth decided to spare the stalls serving eggs.

Sheth is convinced that the joints attracted the wrong kind of people. He apparently has information that people come to eat here after a few ‘prohibited’ drinks. The Navrangpura police had had the stalls removed last month but they came up again. "If they think people break the ‘dry’ law, they should arrest them. Why get the food outlets shut?", wonders Rahul Gandhi, a frequent visitor to the stalls. "More than that," chips in his friend Hiren Dalal, "Who are they to decide what I should eat and wear?" A stall manager, requesting anonymity, says: "We are Hindus and we vote for the BJP. All those who come to eat here are Hindus. Why punish us?"