Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has banned the slaughter and sale of meat in its markets for four days in Mumbai during Paryushan Parva, a Jain festival. However, the ban is not applicable on the sale of fish and eggs. The four days during which the Deonar abattoir would be shut and sale of meat will be banned are September 10, 13, 17 and 18. BJP wanted the ban to be imposed on all eight days, but civic body agreed to four days ban. Ban is only on meat and chicken. However, there is no ban on fish, sea food or eggs.

There are debates on national television and we have seen the outrage on social media also over it. It is more ridiculous that the PM is silent on this matter which seems that the government has become dictatorial. Any disagreement of public opinion will be charged with sedition. I see it as a step to end the democracy, unless large, collective voices are not raised. In this manner, we will soon be in a police state.

Opposing and favouring meat ban is mere politics from both sides. As a Mumbaikar if you ask me, then I can say meat is easily available in malls, restaurants and food joints too. It’s a matter of three days, people can buy the meat in advance and refrigerate it. If one wants to adjust then they can adjust anyhow. My concern is not those politicians who are adamant over ban and neither that who protest against the same. I am concerned about those mutton shop employees whose survival depends on this business. I hope the ‘concerned’ government will have some plans to compensate them? If they have no such plan then this ‘adamant’ decision would be making those people suffer for no reason.

Months after a controversial beef ban in Maharashtra, a move to prohibit meat for four days in Mumbai has provoked anger, with comments on social media calling it a breach of the freedom to choose. No one has realized that this is not the first time that the ban is imposed; it has been in force since 1964, when the BMC passed a resolution directing a two-day prohibition on sale of meat in deference to the demands by Jains, a powerful community which holds many stakes in business and industry in Mumbai. In 2004, the Congress-NCP government passed another resolution endorsing the two-day ban. Since then, the ban has been extended to four days across Mumbai every September. Two days are according to the 1964 BMC resolution and two on account of the state’s 2004 resolution. That time social media was not so active and also the mainstream media was limited, that’s why there was no outrage over it. The ban comes close on the heels of the Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation passing a resolution to ban sale of meat in the satellite town’s civic markets for the entire eight-day Paryushan period. Now, the Congress has done a U-turn. Having passed the state government resolution supporting the two-day ban in 2004, it is now opposing it. Anyway, political leaders are shameless and have no principles. When in power, they say one thing and once out of power, they take a U turn and oppose it. By such petty politics, they are wasting crucial time.

Maharashtra’s ruling BJP had asked for the number of days to be extended to eight, but it was rejected by the civic body. Even the BJP’s ally Shiv Sena, which has a majority in the civic body, says the ban is insupportable and alleges a political move to appease the Jain community in Mumbai, which goes to polls in 2017. On this, the Sena finds itself on the same side as the opposition Congress, which, ironically, introduced the ban. After coming to power in the state last year, the BJP-led government banned the slaughter, sale and import of beef.

Unfortunately, our country India is also moving in the direction of KSA and PRC. The decision of the BJP-led Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) in Mumbai to ban the slaughter and sale of meat during the Jain fasting period of Paryushan goes against the spirit of religious pluralism. Some might argue that the ban which is set to expire on September 27 is only for a short period and that non-vegetarians can easily refrain from consuming meat during this timeframe. But the question which should be asked is: How are non-vegetarians offending Jains by consuming non-vegetarian food during Paryushan? They are not forcing Jains to consume meat along with them.

Mumbai is perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in India, popular amongst tourists, home to numerous financial bigwigs, known for a diversity that no other Indian city can boast of, and not to mention one of the ‘second homes’ of Prime Minister Modi. We need to realize that, to respect each other’s beliefs we don’t need to start following or observing each other’s religious traditions and practices. An atheist does not have to attend a religious procession to make the world believe in the fact that he stands by religious freedom. He or she can choose to stay at home and yet recognize the right of theists to participate in a religious ritual. Similar attitude has to be maintained as far as the relationship between different religious communities is concerned. If someone does not consume beef or pork because of religious sensitivities then he/she should surely abstain from it but he/she cannot make others abstain from consuming such food items on the account of his/her religious beliefs.

Anyway leaving the politics, debates and outrage aside if the ban on killing any new life in slaughter house and small shops Jains feel if they can save some life even for a day then it would be a great deed. Restaurants, however, has stock and may serve meat, claimed a spokesperson of the Indian Hotels and Restaurants Association. So, people need to take it as a ‘Good Will Gesture’.