Is There a Ban on Meat Sales on Independence Day?

Mumbai, Aug 13 (NationPress) In the midst of a heated debate concerning the announcements made by various civic authorities about the closure of slaughterhouses and meat shops within city limits on August 15 for Independence Day and Janmashtami, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the state government has not prohibited the sale of meat.

Fadnavis informed reporters, “The government resolution (GR) related to this matter was issued back in 1988. I was unaware that several municipalities had made decisions in this context. I learned about it through media reports.”

He attempted to downplay the controversy and the ensuing criticism from the opposition, stating, “I inquired with those municipalities about the rationale behind their decisions. They subsequently provided me with the GR from 1988 and mentioned that they enact such decisions annually. Even the civic bodies shared a copy of the government decision from the time of Uddhav Thackeray's Chief Ministership. Ultimately, the government has no intention of dictating what individuals should consume.”

Fadnavis continued, “Currently, many questions arise. Thus, this controversy surrounding the 1988 decision is being portrayed as if it originated from our government. Some individuals have gone so far as to label vegetarians as impotent, which is absurd and needs to cease. Anyone who wishes to eat has the right to do so. Everyone is entitled to live in our nation. Our government has not issued any ban on meat sales; this was a decision made by a previous administration.”

The CM’s clarification follows orders from civic bodies in Kalyan Dombivli, Nagpur, and Malegaon, mandating the closure of all slaughterhouses and meat shops in their jurisdictions for 24 hours on August 15. The opposition parties, including NCP, SP, Congress, and Shiv Sena UBT, criticized the decisions made by these civic bodies.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar opposed the decision, asserting, “It is an individual’s prerogative to choose what they consume. No one should impose their decisions on others. There are vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Dietary choices stem from personal habits, cultural backgrounds, and geographical factors.”

Pawar emphasized that while it is crucial to consider public sentiments during specific religious events like Ashadi Ekadhasi or Mahavir Jayanti, there is no justification for banning meat and non-vegetarian foods on occasions such as Maharashtra Day, Independence Day, or Republic Day.

Criticizing the decision, NCP (SP)’s Jitendra Awhad questioned the rationale behind dictating dietary choices on Independence Day, while Aaditya Thackeray of Shiv Sena UBT called for the suspension of the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation commissioner.

According to a BJP spokesperson, “Even during the tenure of Maha Vikas Aghadi when Uddhav Thackeray was the Chief Minister, similar decisions were enforced. The Nagpur Municipal Corporation, which was under state administration, implemented the ban on slaughterhouses and meat shops in 2021 and 2022.”