Jaipur/Mumbai/Ahmedabad/Jammu: The fever of banning meat and beef spread today with such directives being issued in Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and Ahmedabad even as controversy continued to rage in Mumbai where the High Court ruled that a prohibition on sale of meat is not feasible. Rajasthan government ordered ban on sale of meat and fish on September 17, 18 and 27 on account of festivals, including that of Jains.
In a circular issued to all municipal bodies, the state government has asked meat shop vendors to close their shops and stop sale of meat and fish on September 17 in view of Jain community's ‘Paryushan' (Jain fasting) festival, on September 18 on account of ‘Sanvatsari' (another Jain festival), and September 27 on ‘Anant Chaturdashi', an official said.
The order will also be applicable to slaughter houses, he said.
In Jammu and Kashmir, High Court ordered ban on sale of beef, triggering angry reactions by locals and organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami and separatist Hurriyat Conference. The HC Bar Association said it will challenge the order.
Similarly, in Ahmedabad, Police Commissioner Shivanand Jha ordered ban on slaughter of cattle like cows and goats, for a week during the Jain fasting period of ‘Paryushan' in the city beginning from today.
A public notification issued by Jha last night said slaughtering cattle, including cows, buffaloes, oxen, bulls and goats in open areas may disturb peaceful atmosphere and hurt religious sentiments of Jains during Paryushan, which is celebrated between September 10 and September 17.
The notification bars people from slaughtering animals outside authorised slaughter houses as well as at any other private or public place, which is visible to the public.
Action will be taken against those found guilty of violating the order under Section 188 (violation of police notification) of the Indian Penal Code (violation of police. However, the notification does not ban slaughter inside official slaughter houses.
Meanwhile, amid protests on the streets of Mumbai by political parties, including ruling BJP's ally Shiv Sena and opposition MNS, the Bombay High Court today said imposing a ban on animal slaughter and sale of meat for four days is not feasible in a metropolitan city like Mumbai.
A division bench headed by Justice Anoop Mohta was hearing a petition filed by Bombay Mutton Dealers Association challenging Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) decision to ban the sale of meat for four days—September 10, 13, 17 and 18--during the festival.
The MNS jumped into the meat ban fracas with party Chief Raj Thackeray saying the Jain community was feeling emboldened because of a Gujarati Prime Minister.
Thackeray asked meat shop owners to keep their shops open and assured them of his party's protection. “Will the Jains now decide who should eat what? We will not tolerate this in Maharashtra.
Why does a particular community force such rules on others. “Only because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, Gujarati people, Jains are feeling emboldened...they are trying to control the eating habits of others,” Thackeray said while addressing a gathering here.
He said if the state government was defending its stance saying that the previous government had imposed the ban, then they have no business to be in power.
“If they are talking about the previous government, why are they here now? Let the previous government rule the state. People have elected a new government so that they can do something new in the state,” he said.
Thackeray also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, saying they both were only interested in visiting foreign countries. He also expressed his displeasure over the sudden transfer of Rakesh Maria, now the former Commissioner of Mumbai Police, and said that it only showed the immaturity of the government.
