According to them the BMC’s resolution will only disturb the communal harmony of the country.
Even though the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has banned animal slaughter and sale of meat in Mumbai for four days during the Jain fasting season of Paryushan but the Jain Community is not pleased with this decision. According to them since, India is a secular country and people have right to follow religion and faith and such type of resolution will only disturb the communal harmony of the country. The Fadnavis government had already received flak for imposing beef ban in the state. The latest order comes days after the BJP ruled Mira-Bhayander municipal corporation banned the sale of meat in the area for eight days during the Jain fasting period called Paryushan. How can one person’s religious belief allow them to dictate their lifestyle choices on others?
Kunal Shah who is the co-founder of FreeCharge, said “I was born a Jain and I am ashamed of #Meatban.”
“Can assure you that Lord Mahavira never forced anyone to do what he likes/dislikes. He just inspired and people did what they wanted. Never by force and this is going to end up in a chain reaction where every minority religion will want others to respect their “sentiment”. We should never get carried away and lose our common sense.” he added further.
“I totally justify the ban on meat selling or slaughtering, not just for 8 days but I would love if this ban were carried for life. Not because I am a Jain, I justify the ban, but on a humanitarian ground,” said Sangeeta Jain, a lecturer at SNDT College.
“As a vegetarian myself, I believe that a ban, however temporary, on meat is both legally and morally wrong,” said Ramachandra Guha, Historian.
Vidhi Shah a PR executive said, “Yes. I do support the ban. As India is a democratic country and here the view of each and every citizen is heard.”
“If the government is going to ban something at least compensate the people whose livelihood you’re snatching away for that day,” said Madhuri Banerjee, book author.
“As a Citizen of India we all are bound to follow Constitution of India, which gave us the right to profess, practice and propagate respective religion provided it, doesn’t hurt the sentiments of other religions” said Mahatisagar Shaha, a Chemical Engineer.
“Considering all these facts, my stand on this matter is very clear that though Jains have every right to follow the Ahimsa in every part of life but to forcefully impose the ban on meat will ruin the fundamentals of ‘Live and Let Live’. Hence, I don’t support the forceful imposition of ban on non-veg during Paryusha Parv” he added.
Asaduddin Owaisi, MLA from AIMIM, has condemned the decision of meat ban by Maharashtra government, Owaisi said, “The state government’s decision is unjustified questioning whether it would be tolerable if during Bakra Eid only meat would be served. The government should use its power to reduce the ban and limit it to just two days so that the traders do not suffer.”
Further he said, “I challenge the Maharashtra government to ban alcohol which is a cause of greater misery.”
The BMC took the call to continue the ban which was first enforced a few years ago based on a 1964 and 1994 corporation resolution. The state government too had passed a similar resolution in 2004, where the BMC was asked to shut down slaughter houses during the Jain fasting season.
While the BMC usually restricts slaughter and sale of meat for two days during Paryushan, this year it enforced the four-day ban — 10, 13, 17 and 18 September — across Mumbai. On these days, BMC slaughter houses will be shut and sale of meat will also be prohibited. The BMC’s markets department has been asked to enforce the ban. The decision to enforce the ban was taken by BMC commissioner Ajoy Mehta.
“The ban is anti-democratic. The BMC has buckled under pressure from the BJP. The government should not take any decision to please a particular religious community and should function as per constitution,” said Sanjay Nirupam, former MP and president of Mumbai Congress unit.
The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has also hit out at the BJP over the issue. MNS’s group leader Sandeep Deshpande has called the BJP as ‘Bharatiya Jain Party’ for getting the meat ban enforced.
“This is cultural terrorism. Today, they have banned the sale for four days, will they ask us to stop eating meat,” said MNS corporator Sandeep Deshpande.
