Bombay HC lifts two-day ban on meat, Chhattisgarh joins bandwagon

Earlier on Friday, the metropolis’ civic body had moved a proposal to reduce the number of meat ban days in Mumbai from four to two. During the hearing of the petition against <g data-gr-id="55">ban</g>, the High Court criticised the civic body and government’s decision and said such restrictions cannot be imposed in a city like Mumbai.

However, the BJP-ruled states went ahead with the ban with Chhattisgarh now joining Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Gujarat in banning meat during the festive season. Meat during the eight-day-long Jain fasting period and ‘Ganesh Chaturthi’ festival will not be sold in the central Indian state.

“Like every year, the urban administration department has issued directives to civic bodies to keep all the slaughter houses and meat shops closed from September 10 to 17 for the Jain ‘Paryushan’ <g data-gr-id="29">Parv</g> and Ganesh Chaturthi,” deputy secretary, Urban Administration in Chhattisgarh government Jitendra Shukla said.

Meanwhile in Mumbai, Shiv Sena leader Trushna Vishwasrao submitted a proposal before Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the morning seeking revocation on two days of meat ban out of the total four days imposed during the period of Paryushan Parva in Mumbai. Vishwasrao said it was a decision unanimously taken by all corporators to reduce meat ban. 

The BJP, whose members kept silent as the proposal was being put forth, said there was unnecessary politicisation being done on the issue and that they were in support of the two days meat ban according to the government resolution.

On the other hand, following the state government’s order in Chhattisgarh, a Raipur Municipal Corporation official said the health officers and police stations of all zone have been instructed to take necessary steps to implement <g data-gr-id="33">ban</g>. 

The state government has been imposing <g data-gr-id="31">ban</g> on <g data-gr-id="32">sale</g> of meat during ‘Paryushan’ since 2011. The Ganesh Chaturthi will be celebrated on September 17.