Mumbai, Oct 13 (NationPress) In the midst of a heated debate surrounding the feeding of pigeons, particularly due to the militant stance adopted by the Jain community, the Shiv Sena (UBT) asserted on Monday that Mumbai is the capital of Maharashtra and that the Marathi populace holds the right to shape the city's future.

"The state of Maharashtra was established through the sacrifices and blood of the Marathi people, making Mumbai its capital. Consequently, decisions regarding the presence of pigeon houses in Mumbai should involve discussions with the Marathi community. The party raised concerns over why Jain religious leaders, despite court rulings and expert opinions advocating for the removal of pigeon houses—deemed hazardous to human health—continue to reignite this issue," stated Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena in its editorial 'Saamana'.

The Thackeray faction asserted that a society resorting to violence in the name of religion for pigeons is a phenomenon unique to the Modi era. "The Fadnavis administration ought to enact an ordinance immediately to rectify injustices faced by Jains. They should declare that pigeon houses will be established in all Jain builder complexes and the newly constructed Jain gymkhana at Marine Lines in South Mumbai. This request from the peace-loving Jain community is reasonable; they seek space for pigeons, not reservations," it challenged.

Expressing strong condemnation of the inflammatory political rhetoric from Jain priests at a recent religious gathering purportedly aimed at securing peace for the souls of deceased pigeons, the Thackeray camp remarked, "Such extremist comments echo those previously made by figures like the Imam of Jama Masjid, Shahabuddin, and Owaisi. Innocent lives were lost in Pahalgam and Pulwama, and yet no religious councils were convened for their peace, nor were Pakistani terrorists criticized. There are no pigeon houses in Pahalgam; if there were, prayers would have been held for them," the editorial quipped.

“If Jain priests are resorting to violent language, it is utterly condemnable. Recently, the Jain community has aligned closely with the Bharatiya Janata Party. The industrialists and entrepreneurs from this community provide significant financial backing to the BJP. Why, then, do we still not receive justice? This reflects the frustration of Jain priests. They are a peace-loving community known for their generous contributions. Despite donating to flood relief efforts in Maharashtra, they feel their concerns regarding pigeon deaths due to the closure of pigeon houses are being overlooked, leading them to form a political entity named 'Santidoot Jankalyan Party' to advocate for pigeons in the upcoming BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation elections," the Thackeray camp lamented.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena criticized Jain priests and Gen Z members of the Jain community for stating, "What if one or two individuals perish for pigeons... They cautioned that removing pigeon houses would have consequences." The party questioned why the custodians of state law remain silent while Jain priests make violent remarks about wielding arms to defend pigeons.

The editorial highlighted that the aggressive stance of the Jain community, evident following the demolition of an illegal Jain temple in Vile Parle and the closure of the pigeon house in Dadar due to a High Court ruling, contradicts the principles of peace and non-violence. While it is acknowledged that the Jain community pays the highest taxes, they also reap substantial profits in a city like Mumbai.

“Denying housing to a Marathi individual in the Jain society of Mumbai cannot be classified as non-violence; it constitutes a form of violence. If a group of robbers invaded the Jain community and perpetrated violence, how should these robbers be confronted non-violently? Jain religious leaders should offer guidance on this matter. However, the Jains now seem more concerned about the deceased souls of pigeons than their own well-being; do only pigeons deserve a right to exist in nature? Jains should extend the same compassion to other birds, animals, and humans," the editorial concluded.

According to the editorial, "In the name of constructing the Metro line, over 2,000 trees were felled overnight in the Aarey forest, Mumbai's 'lungs.' Many birds lost their nests, resulting in fatalities. The ruthless actions of the BJP caused these birds, including pigeons, to lose their safe havens. At that moment, neither did Jain sages intervene, nor was a religious assembly held to pray for the souls of the deceased birds in the forest."

"Currently, nearly 400 acres of forest are being destroyed in Hyderabad, and extensive deforestation is underway to extract mineral resources in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh. Countless birds, animals, and tribal communities are losing their lives. What should we do about all those departed souls?" the editorial queried.

The Thackeray camp further remarked that mining companies in regions like Chandrapur and Gadchiroli are razing forests or setting them ablaze with government approval. This results in the destruction of bird habitats and nests, stripping them of their homes, sustenance, and survival. The Jain religious council must contemplate this from a humanitarian perspective.