Islamic scholars, Muslim community leaders, lawyers, NGO representatives, social activists, and political figures convened in Mumbai on Sunday, 17 May 2025, to coordinate administrative preparedness ahead of Bakrid (Eid al-Adha), expected to be observed on 27 May 2025, subject to the sighting of the moon. The meeting focused on ensuring law-and-order compliance, community harmony, and adherence to municipal guidelines during the festival.

Key Concerns Raised

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) spokesperson Waris Pathan flagged the issue of self-styled cow vigilantes operating on public roads. “It has been seen that some people, who spread hatred, want to create disturbance. Today anybody on the road identifies himself as cow vigilante and random vehicles are stopped,” Pathan said after the meeting.

Pathan added that a dedicated committee has been constituted to address all grievances through legal channels, given the volume of complaints that typically surface during the festival period.

BMC Guidelines and Legal Framework

Advocate Amin Solkar appealed for a peaceful Bakrid and assured that rules issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra government would be strictly implemented. “We don’t want unscrupulous people visiting society and spots which they are not authorised to, and create a law-and-order problem. We will take help of the police to implement all the guidelines,” Solkar said. He confirmed that all activity would proceed strictly as per BMC directives, including the mandatory registration of animals.

Religious Leadership Calls for Brotherhood

Muslim religious leader Mufti Muhammad Ashfaq Kazi invoked the concept of Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb — India’s composite cultural tradition — to underscore the importance of communal harmony. “India possesses Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb. All festivals are peacefully celebrated in the country. We will ensure the same is followed this time too,” he said.

Mufti Kazi also cautioned against elements from any community seeking to exploit the occasion. “Sometimes people, irrespective of Hindus or Muslims, try to destroy the peace between communities for fulfilling their personal agenda,” he said. The meeting briefed community members on applicable laws, including regulations governing slaughterhouse operations and sanitation protocols. “The Shariat Law also upholds cleanliness,” Kazi noted.

Legal Team and Community Outreach

A team of lawyers associated with the group pledged to intervene swiftly against any incidents that threaten public order. Participants also discussed cleaning preparations and proper waste disposal around sacrifice sites, in line with civic norms. Mufti Kazi concluded with an appeal to all to celebrate Bakrid “with peace and brotherhood.”

This comes amid a broader national pattern of pre-festival coordination meetings in major cities, reflecting the increasing role of civil society in bridging community-administration gaps ahead of significant religious occasions. How effectively the committee’s legal and outreach mechanisms function on the ground will be closely watched as 27 May approaches.