Marriage halls ban Muslim weddings, cite stench of meat

Citing cooking of non-vegetarian food at their wedding, owners of marriage halls in Uttar Pradesh’s Khurja town, about 400 kilometres from here, have reportedly refused to give them on hire for Muslim weddings.
According to the reports, the marriage home owners had held a meeting in the town a few days back in which the decision was taken.
“The preparation of non-vegetarian food items makes the place dirty and smelly. We have to work very hard to clean the place and ready it for the next marriage ceremony,” said one of the owners.
The owners said they had also received complaints from the ‘non-Muslim wedding guests’ that the marriage homes smelt of meat even after a thorough cleaning.
Reports said some owners have even refunded the advance taken from Muslims, who had booked them for weddings.
“We have been forced to look for marriage venues far away from the town in places like Bulandshahar and Aligarh,” said members of a family whose booking was cancelled by the owners.
Local BJP leaders said no one had the right to interfere in the private business of the marriage home owners. “Some people may have objections over non-vegetarian food,” said a local BJP leader in Khurja.
Local officials said they were trying to solve the matter. “We are talking to the owners of the marriage homes as the current marriage season for the Hindus is now over,” said an official.

“We have received complaints. We will speak to the owners and try to find out an amicable solution,” they added.