Vijayawada: Preparations are in full swing for the Krishna Pushkaralu festival which will begin on Friday in Andhra Pradesh.
In 2015, 29 lives were lost in stampede in Rajahmundry during the Godavari festival. Many questions are now being raised whether the government is fully prepared to avoid similar tragedies during the Krishna festival.
The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation has already come under criticism for banning fish and meat during the festival period. Even the state minority commission has stepped in questioning the government's order.
The Andhra Govt however, has justified its move.
The state's social welfare minister has asked protesters to move out of the city temporarirly. He also insists that meat and liquor ban must go together as the combination leads to public nuisance
"It's a temporary measure taken by government. If you allow liquor, people create nuisance. And with liquor you ban meat. So both restrictions has to gother. We respect all religion, the intension is not to discriminate. Alternate source of income is there for people during pushkaralu. Meat selling people can now move out of city."
In 2015, Mumbai saw a similar ban on meat sale for a Jain festival.
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