The move seems to have left the ruling Maha Yuti alliance divided. (image:facebook.com/devendra.fadnavis/)
Mumbai, Maharashtra: A political row has erupted in Maharashtra after several civic bodies across India ordered slaughterhouses and meat shops to remain shut on August 15. Some municipal corporations extended the closure to August 16 for Janmashtami.
The move seems to have left the ruling Maha Yuti alliance divided. While the BJP has justified the decision, its alliance partners, the NCP and Shiv Sena, are not convinced and have expressed strong disagreement. Meanwhile, the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) criticised the state government for interfering with people’s food choices.
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The orders have been issued by corporations including Nagpur, Kalyan-Dombivli, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Malegaon.
When reporters asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the ban, he said that he had come to know about it through media reports and that his government had no interest in telling people what they can or cannot eat.
“First of all, this state government has not taken any such decision. . . . When I looked into it, I asked several municipal corporations why they had taken such a decision. They sent me the 1988 government resolution (GR) and also informed me that they have been issuing such circulars every year since then,” the NDTV reports, as Fadnavis is saying.
“Ultimately, the government has no interest in deciding what someone should eat. We have many other important issues in front of us,” he added.
Fadnavis further stated that it was wrong to unnecessarily create controversy over a decision that was made in 1988 and to now present it as a new decision by present government.
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Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President Ajit Pawar has also raised objections regarding the ban.
“One would have understood the ban if it were on Ashadhi Ekadashi, Maha Shivratri or Mahavir Jayanti. But when there is no such occasion, why should meat shops be forced to remain closed ? . . . Now you will ban it during Independence Day, Republic Day, Maharashtra Day . . . this is difficult,” Pawar said.
Opposition leaders argued that the alleged ban was an attempt to impose vegetarianism in the state. Several parties, including not only the opposition but also alliance partners, stated that they would protest against the ban if it was not withdrawn.
