Mumbai: The proposed temporary ban on meat in Mumbai has become a bone of contention between the BJP and its ally Shiv Sena, with Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray declaring on Wednesday that his party would not allow an eight-day ban on meat sale during the Jain festival of Paryushan.
He opposed the ban in Mira Road and also said that no such ban would be imposed in Mumbai.
“There will be no ban on meat sale for eight days in the Paryushan period. We will not allow it to happen. It has never happened before,” Mr Thackeray said. After Mr Thackeray’s statement, Sena leaders have threatened a stir if the decision is not revoked.
Sena deputy leader and Maharashtra Rajya Muslim Khatik Samaj organisation’s president Haji Arafat said they would not allow the ban. “We respect the Jain community and we have been keeping slaughter houses closed for two days during the Paryushan period.
However, one has to bear losses of Rs 100 per animal for keeping slaughterhouses closed. If we keep slaughterhouses closed for eight days, then we will have to bear a burden of Rs 800 per animal, which is huge. In that case, we will have no option but to agitate. We will send our animals to agriculture minister Eknath Khadse’s house,” Mr Arafat said.
The BJP-led state government has refused to intervene in the matter saying the decision was taken by the civic body.
