Delhi: Outrage as Jahangirpuri shop owner serves biryani on plates featuring Bhagwan Ram’s picture

A biryani shop owner in Jahangirpuri, Delhi, has been arrested following uproar over serving biryani on disposable plates featuring pictures of Bhagwan Ram. The incident, which occurred on April 21, has triggered widespread condemnation and demands for action against the perpetrators.

According to authorities, the shopkeeper procured 1,000 plates from a factory, with only a few bearing the image of Bhagwan Ram. These plates were reportedly made from recycled paper sourced from the cover of a book titled Ramayana Unravelled by Ami Ganatra.

Upon discovering the plates adorned with Bhagwan Ram’s picture, local Hindu organisations raised objections, citing offense to religious sentiments. They confronted the vendor and lodged complaints with the police, alleging that the plates were being carelessly discarded after use, further exacerbating the situation.

The ensuing chaos prompted a police intervention, leading to the arrest of the shop owner. Authorities recovered a packet containing four plates featuring Bhagwan Ram’s photo, further substantiating the allegations.

Footage of the incident, which quickly went viral on social media platforms, showed bundles of disposable plates adorned with Bhagwan Ram’s pictures, fueling public outrage.

The incident has spotlighted concerns over religious sensitivity and communal harmony in the area. Police are currently investigating the motive behind the act, probing whether it was a marketing ploy or a deliberate attempt to provoke religious sentiments.

This incident is not an isolated one, as similar cases of religious insensitivity have been reported in the past. Instances of owners of eateries facing legal action for offending Hindu sentiments underscore the gravity of such offenses.

In a related incident in Gujarat last year, individuals were booked for selling beef-stuffed samosas, leading to their arrest by the Surat Police. In May 2023, Ismail Yusuf and an accomplice were booked by Surat Police for the same offense, underscoring the sensitivity surrounding religious sentiments in the country.