U&A of South Dilli, unite for nine nights!

Now that we know that there is someone who is South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) mayor, it won't be out of place to comment on his suggestion: that meat shops be shut during nine days of Navratri. Mukesh Suryan is no Rudy Giuliani rallying New Yorkers after 9/11, or Boris Johnson, mayor of London long before pandemic partying became prevalent under his PMship. But Suryan's concern for citizens having to face 'unhygienic' conditions and 'appalling sights', along with 'religious beliefs and sentiments being affected', is touching. Even as he seems to be lobbying for food delivery apps like Meatigo and Licious at the cost of neighbourhood-market meat and fish shops, something that may not please those who like their MSMEs well-done.

Perhaps Suryan wants healthier South Delhiites, pushing citizens of all faiths to observe 'intermittent fasting' during Navratri and Ramzan. Or people to go out to eat to help the post-Covid F&B sector. After all, it's raw meat that apparently upsets his flock, not McDonald's or dhaba non-veg meals. As for the matter of ungainly sight of offal, etc, nine days of hygiene seems good enough for South Delhi's mayor of Casterbridge. The demand - yet to be considered by SDMC - signals 'Uncles and Aunties' (U&A), those folks who want everyone to be like them, still being around. Hello, ji.