• Source:JND
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ISKCON London has issued an official statement after a bizarre and unsettling incident recently unfolded at ISKCON’s famed Govinda’s restaurant in London when a British man of African descent disrupted the peaceful vegetarian space by eating non-vegetarian food on the premises. The act, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, especially in India, sparked outrage among devotees and prompted an official response from the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

The man entered the pure vegetarian restaurant and asked if meat was served. After being informed that Govinda’s strictly offers vegetarian fare in line with Vedic principles, he brazenly pulled out a box of KFC chicken, sat down, and began eating it inside the restaurant. He even attempted to offer the chicken to nearby customers and staff members, creating visible discomfort. Staff members eventually called security and had him removed due to his disruptive behaviour.

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ISKCON’s Official Response

Following the viral incident, ISKCON’s Radha Krishna Temple in Soho issued a statement addressing the situation. The organisation emphasised that Govinda’s is not just a food outlet but a spiritual sanctuary, offering “karma-free meals” designed to nurture both the body and soul.

The statement reflected on the mission of ISKCON’s founder, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who purposely established temples in spiritually deprived parts of the world. Soho in London, known for its red-light district, was one such choice, made to bring light to society’s most degraded corners.

ISKCON criticised the growing trend among youth of deriving entertainment from others’ discomfort, amplified through social media. The organisation attributed this to a lack of spiritual education and guidance, stating that moral decline is evident in such insensitive behaviour.

“If the truth of the Gita could be taught at schools and universities, then such wanton acts of aggression against innocent persons would cease,” the statement noted.

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Call For Compassion And Spiritual Awakening

The organisation reiterated the sacredness of all life and highlighted that cruelty and compassion cannot coexist. ISKCON reminded readers that real peace and moral values can only arise through a spiritual understanding of life.

Despite the disrespectful behaviour, ISKCON chose to respond with grace. “We forgive and sincerely pray for the perpetrators… May they awaken to the divine consciousness of seeing all living beings as equal,” the statement concluded.