UP to bring law to prevent food adulteration, mandate owner's name on signboard: CM Adityanath
Lucknow, Oct 15: The Uttar Pradesh government will soon introduce a new law against sellers who "hide their identity" and mix human waste or inedible material in food items and beverages, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Tuesday.
Imprisonment and fine will be ensured against those who violate the law and action should be taken considering such crimes as cognizable and non-bailable, the chief minister said, adding that sellers will be mandated to put up a signboard with their names at the establishment.
Adityanath, according to a statement, made the announcement during a meeting here to discuss the proposed new law to put a permanent stop to the incidents of adulteration of food items such as juice, dal and roti by mixing human waste or inedible material, recently reported in various parts of the country.
He said such incidents are "horrific" and have an adverse effect on social harmony and health of the consumers, according to the release.
"Such nefarious attempts cannot be accepted at all," he added.
Keeping in view the importance of ensuring the purity of food items and maintaining the confidence of consumers, it is necessary to make strict laws, Adityanath said, directing officers to prepare "clear" regulations to prevent such incidents in hotels, restaurants, dhabas, and street food stalls.
Stating that every consumer has the right to get necessary information about the sellers of the food and beverages they consume, the chief minister said it should be mandatory for the establishment owners to put up a signboard with their names.
It should be mandatory for all the personnel working in the food establishment to wear an identity card and there should be a provision for the strictest punishment against those who use pseudonyms and give wrong information, the release said.
The chief minister said every food establishment should compulsorily install a sufficient number of CCTV cameras for continuous monitoring of the kitchen and dining areas. The footage for at least one month should be made available at all times on demand by the district administration, he added.
It should be made compulsory to cover the head, wear a mask and gloves while cooking food in the kitchen and serving it in the food establishment, the statement said.
The food business operator should provide the details of the personnel working in the establishment to the department concerned, Adityanath said, adding that if any person in the establishment is confirmed to be an intruder or an illegal foreign citizen, strict action should be taken against them.
Clear provisions should be made in the law in this regard, he directed officials.
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Will vacate one of two assembly seats won in 10 days: BJP''s Suvendu
Kolkata (PTI): BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bhabanipur and secured Nandigram for three times in a row in the recent assembly polls, said on Wednesday that he would vacate one of the two constituencies within 10 days.
Adhikari also asserted that the party's central leadership would decide which constituency he would retain.
"I will vacate one seat within 10 days. The party will decide which one I retain. I will not forget my responsibility towards the people of Bhabanipur and Nandigram," he said.
Adhikari on Monday defeated Banerjee in Bhabanipur by over 15,000 votes, puncturing what was long seen as her safest political refuge and delivering a decisive psychological blow to the TMC, amid a sweeping BJP surge across West Bengal.
Addressing party workers and supporters in Nandigram in Purba Medinipur district, the BJP leader appealed to them not to take out victory processions immediately and instead maintain peace.
"Do not take out victory rallies now. Maintain peace and discipline. Celebrate after May 9, after taking permission," he told party workers.
State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Wednesday announced that the oath-taking ceremony of the new government will be held on May 9 at Brigade Parade Ground.
Referring to alleged attacks on BJP workers during the TMC regime, Adhikari said he would not forget the “atrocities" faced by them and assured them of taking appropriate action against perpetrators through legal processes.
"I was part of the 2011 ‘poribartan’ (change), and now I am part of the real change. I offer my gratitude to the people of Nandigram," Adhikari said.
He was referring to the TMC's victory in 2011 when the Mamata Banerjee party dismantled the 34-year Left Front regime in the state.
Adhikari offered prayers at a Hanuman statue in Nandigram and remembered the BJP workers, who had died in political violence.
"We will work in such a way that the BJP government in Bengal stays for 100 years," he said, expressing hope that the BJP’s vote share in the state would rise from the current 46 per cent to 60 per cent in future elections.
The BJP leader also assured residents of Nandigram of improved drinking water supply and better hospital and education infrastructure.
