Several civic bodies in Maharashtra have recently ordered the closure of slaughterhouses and meat shops on August 15, Independence Day, sparking controversy and drawing criticism from various political figures. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has openly expressed his disapproval of these bans, stating that they are inappropriate for a national holiday. He argues that such restrictions are typically reserved for occasions with faith-related sensitivities, such as Ashadhi Ekadashi, Mahashivratri, and Mahavir Jayanti.
Pawar emphasized that Maharashtra is a diverse state with people of different castes and religions, and imposing a meat ban on days like Independence Day, Maharashtra Day, and Republic Day is impractical. He acknowledged that people might accept such restrictions for a day if it's an emotional issue linked to faith, but extending it to national holidays is unwarranted.
Echoing Pawar's sentiments, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray also criticized the meat ban. Thackeray asserted that what people eat on Independence Day is a matter of personal choice and that municipal commissioners have no right to interfere. He further suggested that instead of imposing vegetarianism, civic bodies should focus on improving infrastructure and services.
The directives for closure were issued by municipal corporations in several cities, including Kalyan Dombivali, Malegaon, Nagpur, Nashik, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, the ban extends to August 20, coinciding with Gokul Ashtami and Paryushan Parva, which are significant religious observances. Nagpur has also cited Gokul Ashtami as a reason for the ban.
In response to the controversy, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that the state government is not interested in regulating people's dietary choices, dismissing the issue as an unnecessary debate. He pointed to a 1988 government resolution that allows municipal bodies to impose such restrictions.
Meanwhile, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi has also voiced his opposition to the meat ban, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of people's rights to liberty, privacy, livelihood, culture, nutrition, and religion.
