Such measures do not unite people…': Raj Thackeray slams August 15 meat sale ban, backs HC's pigeon-feeding order

Indian Express

2 days ago

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Thursday criticised the BJP-led state government over its decision to ban the sale of meat on Independence Day and also endorsed the Bombay High Court's order banning pigeon feeding, accusing the police of not acting during the recent protests at the Dadar Kabutarkhana.
'On a day we celebrate freedom, people's freedom is being taken away. The government should not decide who should eat what. These rights are neither with the government nor the municipal corporation,' Thackeray said, reacting to the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation order to close slaughterhouses and stop meat sales on August 15.
Thackeray said he had instructed MNS workers to ensure that meat sales go ahead on Thursday.
While KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal clarified that the order applied only to the sale of meat, and not consumption, similar restrictions have been announced by civic bodies in Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Ichalkaranji.
Thackeray linked the meat ban to what he called divisive policies by the BJP, citing the state government's encouragement of pigeon feeding and its bid to introduce compulsory Hindi at the primary level. 'Such measures do not unite people, they divide them,' he said.
On the closure of the Dadar Kabutarkhana following a high court directive, Thackeray said the order was binding on all communities. 'Jain monks must also understand the dangers posed by pigeons. Doctors have explained the diseases they cause. If anyone violates the ban on feeding them, the police should take action. Those who protested against the closure at Dadar should also have faced police action,' he said.
The MNS chief also targeted state minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who had suggested alternatives to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on the issue. 'Lodha is not a minister for one community; he is a minister for the state. He must also respect the court's decision,' Thackeray said.
Accusing the police of selective enforcement, Thackeray alleged that while members of the Marathi Ekikaran Committee were booked for a protest earlier this week, no action was taken against those who 'came with knives and sharp objects' to damage the tarpaulin put up by the BMC to prevent pigeons from gathering at the kabutarkhana. 'Police cannot act against one group and spare another. Those who took the law into their own hands should be booked,' he said.
Meanwhile, Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay appealed to Thackeray to help ease tensions between the Marathi and Marwari communities, praising him as a 'Marathi Hinduhriday Samrat' and pledging the Marwari community's support for his stand on protecting the Marathi language. 'Take a stand against anyone who insults Marathi or refuses to respect it, and we will stand by you,' he said. The monk also apologised to the Marathi community, saying there had been a misunderstanding involving the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti.
Meanwhile, Thackeray on Thursday held a meeting of MNS workers during which he instructed them to start preparing for the upcoming civic polls and also instructed the cadre and party office bearers to scrutinise the voters' list.
Thackeray also asserted that in Mumbai, only MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) have a strong grassroots presence, and the MNS will emerge victorious in the upcoming polls. The statement came amid speculation of an alliance between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the MNS.