A delegation of top Jain religious leaders met Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday and drew curtains on the controversy over meat ban in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra during the ongoing Paryushan festival.
"As far as Shiv Sena is concerned, this controversy has ended. But we must find out how it all started and who is responsible for it?" Thackeray told media persons briefly after the meeting held at his home 'Matoshree' in Bandra East in the afternoon.
He pointed out that all these years, during Paryushan -- the Jains' holy festival of abstention - meat has always been banned in the city and there were no complaints from any quarters.
"Then, suddenly what happened this year? How has it erupted into this controversy and who is behind it all?" Thackeray <g data-gr-id="32"><g data-gr-id="33">wondered,</g></g> after the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation banned slaughter of
animals and sale of meat in the city for four days.
Following a public outcry from most political parties, including the Shiv Sena, the BMC climbed down
and reduced the ban to two days.
Nevertheless, signalling that the party's stance remains unchanged on the issue, Thackeray made it clear that people of all faiths - Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Jains - <g data-gr-id="25">ust</g> observe their religion within the limits of their homes.
"Nobody must enforce their religious tenets on the people of other faiths and keep it to the confines of their respective homes," Thackeray said.
He pointed out that India is a multi-religious country with people from different faiths, it can become strong and prosper only if they all live unitedly without imposing their beliefs on each other.
MNS puts up non-veg food stall at Jain society
Activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on Sunday put up a non-veg food stall outside a Jain-dominated housing society here to protest against meat sale ban during ‘Paryushan’ festival. MNS workers shouted slogans and publicly ate chicken outside ‘Jai housing society’ in suburban Vile Parle.
They also displayed banners which read “Yes, we will eat non-veg”. MNS chief Raj Thackeray had on Thursday said the Jains cannot decide the policies of the state and vowed his party’s support to those willing to sell meat in the state.