Kalyan-Dombivli civic body bans meat sale, slaughter on Independence Day; NCP(SP) leader Jitendra Awhad plans ‘mutton party'
The notice, signed by Kanchan Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner, Licensing, warns that action will be taken under sections 334, 336 and 394(A) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, if any meat is sold or animals are slaughtered during the period. The order comes at a time when the KDMC is under administrative rule, with the commissioner functioning as the state government's representative.
The Opposition has sharply criticised the move, terming it 'food policing'. Nationalist Congress Party (SP) leader Dr Jitendra Awhad alleged that the government was 'fueling a vegetarian–non-vegetarian divide' after having 'exhausted other social controversies'. He questioned whether residents were now being told what to eat on Independence Day and argued that such a directive could not have been issued without state-level approval.
'My plan is to host a mutton party at the spot. The Maharashtra Government should just announce the date,' Awhad said, adding that he will eat mutton in Kalyan-Dombivli on Friday to defy the order.
Terming the decision 'unacceptable', NCP (SP) parliamentarian Suresh Mhatre said food choices are deeply rooted in cultural traditions, particularly in the coastal Agri-Koli community, which consumes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. 'Such a ban cannot be imposed,' he stated.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray too joined the criticism, calling for the KDMC commissioner's suspension. 'Who is the commissioner to tell us what to eat and what not to? Bridges are collapsing, roads are in terrible shape, and instead of fixing them, the administration is busy banning food,' Thackeray said.
Defending the order, Shiv Sena MLA from Kalyan, Vishwanath Bhoir, said there was no public objection and that being vegetarian for one day should not be an issue. 'If people follow become vegetarian for one day, what is the harm? Criticism is the job of the Opposition,' he added.
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