Hold Up - Lucknow’s 'Tunday Kababi' Is Not Shutting Down

Several reports did the rounds yesterday regarding the shutting down of Lucknow’s iconic eatery, Tunday Kababi. Reported to date back to 1905, Tunday Kababi is as much a Lucknow landmark as are Hazratganj and Chowk. So, when the news broke, so did the hearts of hundreds of loyal customers around the country.

It was alleged that the closing was due to newly elected Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s ban on beef and meat. Reading deeper into the situation, however, it turned out that the new CM’s directive was to shut down illegal slaughterhouses in the area, a commendable move on humanitarian grounds, till an extent, which in turn affecting the availability of buffalo meat.

As a result, many restaurants around the region felt the crunch in meat supply and Tunday’s Akbari Gate outlet pulled down its shutters on Wednesday, but reopened the very next day. Meanwhile, the Aminabad outlet continued to do business, albeit, sans their infamous beef kebabs. Instead, customers were provided a steady supply of mutton and chicken kebabs.

Indeed, numerous eating joints are in a bit of a tizzy due to the declining meat supply, but it is a momentary lapse. In the larger scheme of things, Yogi Adityanath’s sealing and shutting down of illegal slaughterhouses is one that we support given that the agenda here, is not paving the way for yet another beef ban or isn’t the beginning of the hindu-washing of UP as many have good reason to believe. The debate surrounding the ban around the country is hinged for many individuals (understandably) on the current status of secularism and religion in India. It’s all highly suspect considering three shops selling meat and fish were already set ablaze following Adityanath being sworn in. Devendra Fadnavis may claim the “‘ban on cattle slaughter has nothing to do with Muslims or Hindus,” and as the Hindu ultra-nationalist wave continues to grow deeper roots into Indian society, only time can tell what the reality of the situation is.

It is of more importance now than ever before though, to understand the dangers of pushing out unverified or biased information and be unmoving in our search for fact over fiction. Here’s how you can start.