The northern state of Uttarakhand and its neighbor Uttar Pradesh want to impose heavy fines or even prison sentences for people contaminating food. The opposition to Narendra Modi fears that these measures will serve to stigmatize Muslims, already oppressed in the country.
Nearly $1,200 fine for contaminating food. Two states in northern India have announced their intention to impose heavy fines or even imprisonment on people contaminating food with spit, soil or even urine.
As reported by the BBC, the state of Uttarakhand will impose a fine of up to 100,000 rupees, or $1,190. Hotel staff police must now monitor the preparation of dishes, and surveillance cameras must be installed in the kitchens.
The neighboring state of Uttar Pradesh is also preparing to legislate, with the authorities wanting to require its catering workers to wear masks and gloves and asking to display the names of the owners of each establishment serving food, in addition to the installation of cameras. According to the Indian press, prison sentences of up to 10 years are being considered.
Discrimination of Muslims?
These two states, led by the BJP, the ruling party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed government directives, after the release of several unverified videos posted on social networks, showing street vendors spitting in food, or a woman urinating in the dish she was preparing.
After the broadcast of these videos, numerous comments targeting Muslims, a community already persecuted in India, emerged. After police verification, the woman urinating in food was actually found to be Hindu. The Indian opposition is concerned that these laws could be used to discriminate against the Muslim community.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, a series of fake videos showing Muslims spitting, sneezing or licking objects to infect Hindus went viral.
As our British colleagues explain, food is a sensitive subject in India, because it is linked to religion and caste systems. Furthermore, it is also a public health issue in a country where 600 million food-related infections are recorded each year, and which leads to 400,000 deaths per year.
