'Jain Community Will Press NOTA In BMC Elections If Govt Doesn't Stop Anti-Pigeon Campaign,' Says Activist Amid Massive Crackdown By Mumbai Civic Body

Mumbai: The entire Jain community will press the None of The Above (NOTA) button in the upcoming BMC elections if the BJP-led Mahayuti government does not stop its "anti-pigeon campaign," Sneha Visaria, a prominent feeder told FPJ on Tuesday. She is one of the three petitioners in Bombay High Court who is fighting in defence of pigeons.

She said vested interests were spreading a totally false narrative that pigeons caused lung problems. "No one has produced an iota of evidence that pigeons cause lung problems and yet a scare has been created among people against these defenceless birds. Unfortunately the high court has also passed orders without going into the depth of the issue," she added.

Interestingly hundreds of people living in the vicinity of the Dadar kabutarkhana, which is at the Centre of the ongoing controversy, have come out openly in defence of feeding. They said none of them have faced any health issues because of these "innocent birds. "

Worried about loss of support from the powerful Jain community chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has convened a meeting on Tuesday to discuss the issue. He has clarified that the ban on feeding has been imposed by the high court and not his government. This statement has opened a window of hope for pro -pigeon citizens. Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Ghatkopar MLA Parag Shah, who belong to the Jain community, are expected to attend, among others.