Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday revoked two days of the four day long ban on slaughter of animals during the Jain festival of Paryushan. This decision was taken amid a raging debate that saw the Shiv Sena united with the opposition, leaving its ally BJP to fend for itself.
Municipal Councillors voted in the BMC’s general body meeting to revoke this ban imposed by the civic body on the first and the last day of the eight day long Paryushan. This leaves the city with only two days of the meat ban during the festival, which was imposed earlier by the Congress ruled state government in 2004. According to the 1964 resolution of the BMC, ban on slaughter of animals was applicable on the first day of Paryushan. Similarly, according to the civic body’s 1994 resolution, the ban was applicable on the last day of Paryushan.
In a historic proposal by Samajwadi Corporator Rais Shaikh yesterday, the two resolutions of 1964 and 1994 were amended and cancelled after all councillors present voted to revoke them. Shaikh said, “The ban was never on sale of meat in the markets. It extended only to the Deonar slaughter house, in good faith, out of respect for religion. However, the BJP politicised the issue and converted it into a blanket ban on meat.”
On being asked whether the ban has been lifted for the Deonar Slaughter house or the markets as well, Shaikh informed that as the issue has now been put to record, no further interpretation is required. Deonar Slaughter house will now function even on the first and last day of Paryushan. Previously, the BMC had lifted the ban temporarily for the present year, by calling a special general body meeting, earlier in September. This decision was stringently backed by Shiv Sena, MNS, Congress and Samajwadi Party. MNS party workers even took to streets to sell meat on the days of the ban.
