A decision by the Russian government to destroy over 350 tonnes of illegally imported food has hit the wrong chord with locals as well as foreigners. That the country is plagued by food shortages and some have to go hungry, did not seem to worry the government, which undertook the job with rare enthusiasm. Images of cheese and fruit being destroyed touched many citizens who, till a decade ago had to contend with long queues to buy bread and other basic commodities. President Putin had banned the import of food products from the European Union and United States in retaliation to sanctions slapped on Russia for its military offensive in the Ukraine. Activists in Russia have planned to protest against the order while the government justified it as the produce was illegal. One has seen nations destroy CDs and other contraband material as its sale or production was in contravention of law and one would argue that Russia must be granted the same freedom. However, food falls in a different category because it is a basic necessity. Perhaps, Putin's mistake was in the choice of goods his government chose to ban, rather than the methods adopted. It does seem heartless to destroy food when nearly 759 million people in the world do not have enough to eat and Putin would do well to remember this.
