The Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has decided to prohibit the slaughter of animals and ban the sale of meat during the Jain fasting period of Paryushan between September 10 and 28, according to reports. This resolution has been in place since 2007, but it is only this year that the ban has been extended to four days -- September 10, 13, 17 and 18 -- instead of the mandatory two days last year.
Times of India reported that around 1.25 lakh Jains are likely to fast between September 11 and 27 and BMC has decided to close down abattoirs during that period after a poll in the general body meeting on Friday that BJP won by 29 votes.
The report quoted BJP MLA and corporator Narendra Mehta as saying that "looking at the growing population of Jains in the region it was only natural to ban meat sale during the entire fasting period". "The municipality is within its powers to extend the ban," said Mehta.
However, the announcement was met with disbelief, anger and wry humour on social media. Most people saw the move as an attempt by the government to curb people's freedom of choice.
I am a #Jain I don't eat meat. I DON'T support #meatban
— Saurabh Shah (@shahsa2003) September 8, 2015
Why don't you ban milk n milk products too..after-all it's basically cow's blood.
— Mariana Gedia (@MarianaGedia) September 8, 2015
Imagine you are not allowed to eat meat in the country like India just because some religious organisation demand for ban. Pathetic #meatban
— Vaibhav Rawoot (@vaibhavrawoot) September 7, 2015
The government might want to be careful with these #bans..at the rate they're going, there won't be anything left to ban but them! #meatban
— Adi (@absolutepepper) September 7, 2015
If due to one community's belief others should leave meat, will due to other's beliefs veggies eat meat? #meatban
— Raghav Chopra (@AarSee) September 7, 2015
I don't eat non veg during 10 days of Ganeshotsav, so I won't be affected by #MeatBan, but, banning it because somebody's fasting is stupid
— Sandesh Samant (@sandesh_samant) September 7, 2015
#meatban should be pan-india
— Raman K K (@ramankk92) September 8, 2015
Meat ban during jain fast lol. Gov must also ban jain pav bhaji during ramzaan to teach the carnivores a lesson #meatban
— archit wahi (@ruuuuuuuuuuud) September 8, 2015
Try and tell a Bengali about the #meatban and he would be like "Damn, aaj only Maach khete hobe!" (Damn, only fish today!)
— An-ony-mous (@talllika) September 8, 2015
Earlier I used to live in India, somehow unknowingly I have migrated to Bannistan #meatban
— Abhas Mehrotra (@seekabhas) September 8, 2015
Such an irony that Asking not to kill or eat a living being is considered offensive. #meatban#jains
— Chandni Sethi (@chandnisethhi) September 7, 2015
Why not onion and garlic? I am pretty sure dedicated Jains don't consume onion and garlic. What a ludicrous society we live in! #MeatBan
— Asrar (@helloiamasrar) September 7, 2015
The govt is in our bedroom #377 and now in our kitchen #meatban#beefban time to push back.
— Vikram Batra (@vjsbatra) September 7, 2015
After #MeatBan, food pics on instagram be like: pic.twitter.com/8dOSyCbqiZ
— Pornstache (@Goddamittt) April 7, 2015
Chicken aur mutton pe ban laga diya toh saare nationalists road par aa jayenge virodh karne.
— जस्टिस अर्नब (@justicearnab) April 1, 2015
Chicken aur mutton pe ban laga diya toh saare nationalists road par aa jayenge virodh karne.
— जस्टिस अर्नब (@justicearnab) April 1, 2015
By this move each and every community will try to show how their fest is sacred and meat should be banned on these days. #meatban
— Nimish Deshmukh (@TheFierceReader) September 8, 2015
Daaru nahi peeta
Cigarette nahi peeta
Non-Veg nahi khaata
Pyaaz, adrak lehsun kuch nahi khata
Bada Jainuine insaan hai
— Priyanka Lahiri (@lahirip) September 3, 2015
#meatban There are others who eat meat on daily basis why take away their food for the day? #Mahagovt
— Jayashree (@jayshirsagar) September 8, 2015
Someone tell the morons responsible for the #meatban that fish are caught alive too. And eggs. Don't forget to ban eggs. And milk.
— lindsay pereira (@lindsaypereira) September 8, 2015
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