BJP's new poser to minorities: Why can't we have 'eco-friendly' Bakr-Eid

BJP on Monday pitched for a debate on observance of Bakr-Eid (the feast of sacrifice), which will be celebrated on Tuesday in an “eco-friendly” way, saying the intelligentsia in the country should mull over it.

“The way we are becoming more eco-friendly, the way a campaign in this regard is going on in the country and the world... it is a matter of debate and there should be a debate over it. It will be good if the intelligentsia in the country discusses it. It will be good,” BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma told a press conference.

He was responding to a question as to whether the Bakr-Eid or Eid al-Adha, during which Muslims across the world sacrifice animals as part of their holy tradition, should be observed in an “eco-friendly” way as is the case with some other festivals.

Many activists have been campaigning against slaughter of animals with a section of them arguing that not killing animals is good for environment. Sharma made it clear that whether eco-friendly Eid should be observed or not is a matter of debate.

“There can be a discussion on whether there should be eco-friendly Eid or not. There is freedom of expression in our country and people have a right to express their different opinions... But, yes, there should be a debate over it.”