It was business as usual for meat sellers despite a district administration order against sale of non-vegetarian items on Prakash Utsav (Gandhi Maidan to Patna City) routes for three days from January 3.

The administration's initiative comes because the Sikh religion forbids indulgence in non-vegetarian food and alcohol during Prakash Utsav. The administration is particularly worried about Wednesday when a huge nagar-kirtan will be taken out in the city. They don't want chicken or mutton to be seen being sold on the route, as the sight might be unwelcome for devotees.

But Prakash Kumar, a meat-seller selling meat in the open at Raja Bazaar, said he was not aware of the administration's directive. "I am not the only one who is selling meat in the open," Prakash said. "Other butchers are also selling their ware in the open."

Suraj Kumar, a chicken seller on Boring Road, had a different take. "This directive is completely illogical," Suraj said. "Those who don't wish to consume non-vegetarian food would obviously not come to our shops. So they should not have any problem with us selling meat in the open."

Manoj Kumar Verma (48), a businessman purchasing chicken from Suraj, agreed with him. "The district administration's decision is unjustified," Manoj said. "Hawkers don't sell meat. It is sold at few earmarked places in the city. We should respect all religions, but those unhappy with consumption of meat should avoid going to places where chicken and meat is sold. Why is the administration unnecessarily harassing chicken- and mutton-sellers?"

Prashant Nandan, a government schoolteacher seen buying chicken from a shop on Boring Road, said: "The decision should have been taken after arriving at a consensus with every community."

Norms were also being violated at shops in Police Line, just .5km from Gandhi Maidan where a large number of Sikh devotees, including Sewadars and Jatthedars from abroad, are residing in the tent city.

A Patna Municipal Corporation official confirmed they have received a copy of the district magistrate's order. "Yes we have been asked to ensure no chicken or mutton shops sell meat in the open in view of Prakash Utsav," PMC commissioner Abhishek Singh said. "If people are violating the directive, strict action will be taken against them."

Asked about chicken, mutton and fish shops openly violating the order in Raja Bazaar and Boring Road area, which falls in his circle, Vishal Anand, executive officer of New Capital Circle of PMC, said he was not aware of it. "Today itself we took action against shops on Boring Road and Police Line. Action was also taken against a few shops in Bankipore circle. If shops continue to violate the order on Wednesday, strict action will be taken against them. We can file an FIR against them in the police station concerned," Anand said.