Ahmedabad: The decision of banning sell of non-vegetarian food in public places in Ahmedabad made food vendors quandary. The local self-government of Ahmedabad ordered for banning of selling non-vegetarian food near schools, colleges and religious institutions.

Pushcart owners have criticized the decision of the state government banning sales of non-veg food on roadsides. Street vendors have stated that there is no logic behind the banning of the sale of non-veg food and they are now in fear of losing their livelihood.

 “How does it make sense to ban us and allow hotels. Won't the smell (of non-veg food) come from there?" Rakesh, a street vendor in Ahmedabad, told news agency ANI.

Along with non-veg selling pushcarts, police have also taken away the pushcarts from those who sells vegetarian food too. “ I have been selling sandwiches and bread, my cart also been taken away,” said food vendor Sundar.

After controversy over banning the selling of non-veg food at the roadside, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has clarified that the state government has no problem with different food habits of people and that the decision was taken with hygiene and civic issues in mind.

“Some people eat vegetarian food, some people eat non-vegetarian food, the BJP government does not have any problem with it. There have been demands to remove particular 'larries' (carts) from the road. Our only concern is that the food sold from food carts should not be unhygienic,” Patel said, PTI reported.

The Chief Minister has given liberty to the local civic bodies to take decisions on removing food carts if they hamper road traffic.

“Local municipal corporations or municipalities take decisions to remove food carts. They can do so if they are obstructing traffic on city roads,” Mr. Patel said.

Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has decided to remove non-veg food stalls from public roads and those operating 100 metres from schools and religious places.