MNS takes to streets over meat ban for Jain festival

Saying that words like 'ban' have no place in a democratic system, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Monday protested against the meat ban during the Jain festival Paryushan in the city.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), on August 26, had announced that as per state government's directives, according to a government resolution issued by the urban development department in 2004, the Deonar abattoir would be shut for two days — August 29 and September 5. However, BJP leader Raj Purohit had demanded that the existing two-day ban on slaughter of animals and sale of meat in the city be extended to four days.

This angered the MNS, which took to the streets in Dadar on Monday, opposing the demand and proposed ban, calling it an anti-democratic move.

“They (BJP) cannot go ahead with such a ban or decide what people eat. On what grounds or policy can they dictate the ban of meat, chicken or fish in Mumbai? Under no circumstances we will allow such a ridiculous move and demand pressed by anyone,” said MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande, who along with several MNS adherents was detained for sometime by the police for the protest.

The Raj Thackeray-led party has found support in the Shiv Sena, which also opposed the meat ban, isolating the BJP over the issue.

According to leader of House and Sena corporator Trushna Vishwasrao, the proposed extension of a four-day ban is not acceptable to the saffron brigade. “The call of the administration to shut the slaughterhouse for two days is as per the GR. However, there is no rule with the civic body under which it can ban the sale of meat or fish shops or stalls in the city,” said Vishwasrao.

She added that the ban will draw ire from the local koli community, which started their business only a few days back, after the restriction on fishing during monsoon was lifted by the state.

The issue had cropped up last year as well, when an eight-day ban was demanded, which only sustained for two days. In spite of that the BJP MLA asked for a four-day ban on meat and another four-day ban during the Ganesh Chaturthi.

Criticising the BJP-led government, leader of Opposition and Congress corporator Pravin Chheda said, “Their (BJP) rule is in Delhi and in Maharashtra. Then what stops them from making it (the four-day ban) official? This is pure political play. The BJP government is trying to woo the Gujarati and Jain vote banks by making such hollow demands before the upcoming elections.”

The civic administration has clarified that as per the directives of the Bombay High Court, there will be no ban on the sale of meat on the days the abattoir would remain shut as it is not feasible in a metropolitan city like Mumbai.