The Rampurhat Municipality in West Bengal's Birbhum district has ordered three roadside meat shops in the town's Court Lane area to remain shut on 15 and 16 November 2026 — a Sunday and Monday — for the duration of Chhath Puja. The directive, bearing the signature and official stamp of the municipality chairman, was issued on Friday, 14 November 2026, and has since triggered financial concerns among local traders and ignited a political dispute.

What the Notice Says

The notice, addressed to three meat shops positioned in a row along a public road, informed shopkeepers that their establishments must remain closed for both days of the festival. Beyond the two-day closure, the directive also instructed traders that on all other days, slaughtered animals — including goats and sheep — displayed for sale must be covered with a red cloth. The municipality cited the route's use by fasting Chhath Puja devotees as the basis for the order.

Rampurhat Municipality Chairman Soumen Bhakat defended the move, stating that the closure applies specifically to shops where animals are slaughtered and cut in open public view. “Meat is cut in the open at those shops. That is why they have been ordered to close for the two days of Chhath Puja. This decision has been taken to respect everyone’s sentiments,” Bhakat said.

Traders Flag Financial Losses

Local meat shop owners expressed concern over the economic impact, noting that Sunday is their highest-sales day of the week. “Sunday is a holiday, and our sales are much higher compared to other days. Keeping shops closed on Sunday will cause us losses,” one Rampurhat meat shopkeeper said.

A second trader pointed out that the shops also supply meat to a restaurant and have a regular Sunday clientele. “We also supply meat to a restaurant and have regular Sunday customers. Had they asked us to work with curtains drawn or shutters down, there would have been no loss. However, since the municipality and administration have issued the order, we have to obey,” the shopkeeper added. Notably, traders said Chhath Puja has been observed peacefully in the town for years without any such prior closure orders.

Political Controversy Erupts

The directive drew sharp criticism from the Indian National Congress (INC), which accused the civic body of pursuing divisive politics. Former Congress MLA Milton Rashid alleged that the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) municipality chairman issued the order to court favour with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“After the elections, most councillors are maintaining ties with the BJP to protect their positions. This is the first time the municipal chairman has issued such an order to get closer to the BJP government. People here celebrate every festival together; this is simply part of the politics of division,” Rashid alleged.

Responding to the opposition’s criticism, state BJP chief spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said, “If they think these are unimportant matters, they should go to court. The doors of the court are open to everyone.” The remark was widely read as the BJP declining to take ownership of the order while also declining to oppose it.

Broader Context

The episode reflects a recurring tension in West Bengal over the management of public spaces during religious festivals — a fault line that political parties have increasingly contested. This comes amid a broader national debate about the rights of traders, particularly those from minority communities, during majority-faith festivals. The Rampurhat incident is not isolated: several municipalities across India have faced similar controversies over meat-shop closures during Hindu festivals in recent years.

Whether the municipality will face a legal challenge remains to be seen; the closure window of 15–16 November 2026 is already underway.