Opposition parties, led by the Indian National Congress and the Samajwadi Party (SP), on Friday, 22 May sharply attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government after it issued a set of guidelines ahead of the Bakrid festival, accusing the ruling party of deliberately stoking communal tensions. The guidelines, issued under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's administration, warned of strict legal action against the sacrifice of prohibited animals and violations of public hygiene norms.

What the Guidelines Say

The Delhi government issued the pre-Bakrid directives stating that the slaughter of animals prohibited under Indian law, along with breaches of public hygiene regulations, would attract stringent legal consequences. Officials framed the move as a routine law-and-order measure ahead of the festival.

Congress Calls It a 'Toolkit' to Divide

Congress leader Pawan Khera questioned the timing and intent of the guidelines, arguing that laws governing ritual animal sacrifice — known as qurbani — already exist across all states. 'So why are they saying these new things? They are doing it to disturb the environment, to create hatred. They want to create a controversy. These rules and laws are already in place in every state. And in Delhi, which camels and which cows are sacrificed anyway?' he said.

Khera further alleged that such controversies are engineered to divert public attention from governance failures. 'This is their toolkit, which appears on every Eid,' he added.

Fellow Congress leader Surendra Rajput echoed the criticism, contending that the sacrifice of restricted animals is not practised in the first place. 'BJP leaders don't have anything else to do. They could not provide clean air in Delhi, nor could they clean the Yamuna river, so now they are passing statements on religious issues,' he said. While accepting that strict action against violations is appropriate, Rajput questioned the need for what he described as 'unnecessary statements.'

Samajwadi Party Urges Multi-Faith Consultation

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Ashutosh Verma called for a consultative process before issuing directives touching on religious practice. He urged the formation of a committee comprising leaders from across faiths, arguing that 'one-sided guidelines lead to problems.' Verma also pointed to what he described as a double standard, noting that BJP members themselves reportedly consume beef and pork in the northeast. 'Guidelines should be issued only after a meeting with leaders of different religions in order to find a solution to these things and not conflict, which the BJP wants to create,' he said.

Shia Body Backs the Directive

Not all voices were critical. Shia Markazi Chand Committee President Syed Saif Abbas Naqvi backed the government's position, stating that adherents must sacrifice only animals permitted under Indian law. 'Every year, we make this appeal and repeatedly say that we must follow the law and the Constitution of India and act accordingly. Animals that are banned in our country and on which restrictions have been imposed should absolutely not be slaughtered,' he said, adding that he fully supports the view that legally prohibited animals must not be sacrificed during Bakrid.

The Broader Context

This is not the first time pre-festival government advisories have triggered political flashpoints in Delhi. Critics argue that such directives, while legally defensible in isolation, are selectively timed to coincide with Muslim festivals — a charge the BJP has consistently denied. This comes amid a heightened political climate in the capital following the BJP's return to power in Delhi, with the Opposition closely scrutinising every administrative decision for communal undertones. How the festival passes without incident will be closely watched by both political camps.