Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said on Sunday that the state government will ban the roadside display and sale of meat in the open near educational institutions to prevent “violent tendencies” among children, ANI reported.
The government will also prohibit the selling of meat in open near religious sites and in crowded public places, Sinha told reporters. He said this was necessary “from a health perspective” and for “social harmony”.
Sinha said that the sale of meat and fish in the open “pollutes pure thoughts”, ANI reported. He added: “We have no problem with food, but social harmony and the sentiments of purity should not be hurt. No one’s sentiments should be hurt, and the environment should not be polluted.”
#WATCH | Patna: On UDHD Principal Secretary's letter regarding the open sale of meat and fish, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha says, "This is a new initiative of the new government. The changing face of Bihar is clearly visible. We held a meeting under the Urban… pic.twitter.com/5Y6ciK5lNt
— ANI (@ANI) February 23, 2026 Last week, Sinha had announced in the Legislative Council that the government would ban open-air and unlicensed meat sales in urban areas, The Indian Express reported. He had claimed that during a recent visit to Darbhanga district, residents had complained to him about roadside meat sales leading to filth, foul odour and congestion.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader had then said that the decision was not aimed at any community or dietary preference.
The ban on the sale of meat in the open will be enforced through Section 345 of the Bihar Municipal Act, 2007, according to The Indian Express. The provision says that no one can work as a butcher, fish seller or poultry seller without a licence from the Chief Municipal Officer.
The announcement by the Bihar government is in line with restrictions on selling meat in states where the BJP is in power.
In 2017, the Uttar Pradesh government laid down guidelines prohibiting the sale of meat near religious sites and requiring shops to use curtains and tinted glass to ensure that meat is not visible to passers-by.
States such as Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra have implemented localised restrictions and curbs during Hindu festivals.
Also read: The illogic of meat bans
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