Mumbai: Municipal corporations across Maharashtra, including Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Nashik, Malegaon, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, have ordered the closure of slaughterhouses and meat shops on August 15. These closures are part of a broader restriction that encompasses certain Hindu and Jain festivals. In Kalyan, heightened security has been implemented in response to potential protests from political parties and butcher associations against these local orders.
Reports from PTI detail that officials are on alert due to warnings of agitation, including the possibility of setting up meat stalls and organizing gatherings near the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC). Deputy Commissioner of Police, Atul Zende, mentioned that those engaging in such activities will be served notices, with prohibitory orders possibly issued to maintain public order.
The KDMC's directive mandates all licensed slaughterhouses and butchers to remain closed from midnight on August 14 to midnight on August 15, under threat of legal action per the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949. In response to criticisms, KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel noted that such restrictions are not new, having been in place annually since 1988, and apply to other significant days, including Gandhi Jayanti and Mahavir Jayanti, based on recommendations by health officials.
Political responses have varied, with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, expressing disagreement with the closures. The BJP, part of the ruling coalition, has supported the directives referencing a 1988 state government resolution that empowers local bodies to enforce these restrictions. Questions have emerged regarding the historical context, as the initial implementation of the policy dates back to when NCP leader Sharad Pawar was chief minister.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asserted that the government is not concerned with regulating dietary choices, labeling the controversy unnecessary. Conversely, Pawar deemed the bans inappropriate and highlighted that such restrictions typically arise from religious sensitivities. Former Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray argued for the commissioner’s suspension, advocating against dietary regulations imposed by local authorities.
Opposition parties have criticized the Mahayuti government for creating distractions with "nonsensical" issues while neglecting more pressing matters. Allegations have surfaced that the BJP incites caste and communal tensions as a political strategy.
NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad announced he would host a mutton party on August 15 to showcase personal dietary freedoms. AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has contended that the municipal orders are unconstitutional, questioning the connection between meat consumption and Independence Day observances.
