Latest news with #Kabutarkhana
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Marathi grp protests Jain push for pigeon feeding in Dadar
Mumbai: The Dadar Kabutarkhana controversy escalated on Wednesday as several hundred Marathi Ekikaran Samiti members were detained while protesting against the Jain community's demand to allow pigeon feeding at the spot. The Samiti members said they were angered by the remarks of Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay, who threatened an indefinite hunger strike and said he would "pick up arms" if necessary. Police denied the Samiti permission to protest a day earlier. By morning, heavy bandobast was in place with barricades, deployment of police teams, and officers stationed outside the adjoining Jain temple. Several shops in the vicinity remained shut. The protesters who arrived engaged in heated arguments with police, demanding to know why no action was taken against Jain community members who last week forcibly tore down the civic cover around the Kabutarkhana, allegedly even using knives and scissors. Dadar police detained 15-20 members and later let them go. Police haven't registered any FIR or NC against the protestors, saying the matter is still pending before court and they had detained a few protestors as a precautionary measure. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Are you ready to conquer a planet? Undo You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Gold Rates Today in Mumbai | Silver Rates Today in Mumbai "This is not a religious issue but a matter for the entire community," said one protester, adding if anyone was speaking about picking up weapons, "they should clarify against whom. We come from the lineage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and are also capable of picking up weapons. The Marathi manoos will not tolerate this." The crowd repeatedly chanted slogans of "Marathi mansacha vijay aso." In response, Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay clarified his community would not use weapons and planned to protest peacefully — but only after Paryushan. "When I said we will pick up 'shastra', I meant we would go on a hunger strike, following Gandhi's path of satyagraha. Even if someone assaults us, we will endure it. If anyone believes we are disrespecting the Marathi manoos, let me be clear — we will never take up arms. We believe in ahimsa," he said. He added while Rajasthan is the community's janmabhoomi, Maharashtra is their karmabhoomi, and they respect both Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. "We are a peace-loving trading community. But if court decisions go against us, we will be compelled to protest. We did not use weapons to cut the Kabutarkhana cover, it was cut with a sharp tool used for cutting pipes," he said. Calling MNS chief Raj Thackeray "the god of the Marathi language," the monk urged him to intervene and end the row. (Inputs by Ahmed Ali & Pushkraj Vernekar) Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Bombay High Court Okays Expert Panel On Pigeon Row, Halts Civic Body's Controlled Feeding Plan
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the formation of an expert committee to examine the pigeon-feeding controversy, while putting the brakes on the proposal of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to allow "controlled feeding" between 6 am and 8 am until public opinion is sought. A bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor was hearing petitions on the closure of a nearly a century-old Kabutarkhana in Dadar. Maharashtra Advocate General Birendra Saraf presented a proposed list of committee members, including health officers, town planners, immunologists, and microbiologists, in line with the court's earlier directions to prioritise public health and constitutional rights. The bench asked for more names to be added. Mr Saraf said the committee's first task would be to survey existing feeding points in public spaces and later recommend sites for controlled feeding without endangering public health. The court approved this and gave the panel a month from its first meeting to submit a report. In addition, BMC informed the court it was ready to permit feeding during a two-hour morning slot with certain conditions. The bench rebuked the civic body for shifting from its earlier stand without consulting stakeholders. "You earlier took a decision in the public interest. Now, because one person says something, you change it? If you want to revise an order, issue a notice and seek suggestions from all stakeholders, including the public," the court said. The judges directed that no controlled feeding could be allowed before assessing public health implications and inviting objections. The BMC clarified that no order had yet been passed and assured that suggestions would be sought first. A suggestion from the petitioner to use Mahalaxmi Racecourse as a feeding point was met with caution from the bench. The bench said, "It may set the wrong precedent that could lead to demands for feeding zones in every open space." The court directed that all stakeholders, including petitioners, can submit written suggestions to the newly formed committee, and that public views on controlled feeding should be collected within 5-10 days. The next hearing is scheduled after four weeks. Speaking outside court, senior advocate Harish Pandya, appearing for the petitioner, said, "We had requested morning and evening slots for feeding, but that was not granted. The court will now decide based on the committee's report. This is a setback, as we cannot feed pigeons for now."
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Dadar Kabutarkhana row escalates into Jain–Marathi manus face-off
MUMBAI: The Dadar Kabutarkhana controversy took a sharp communal turn on Wednesday as hundreds of Marathi Ekikaran Samiti members were detained while protesting against the Jain community's demand to allow pigeon feeding. The Samiti members said that they were angered by remarks from Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay, who threatened an indefinite hunger strike and said he would 'pick up arms' if necessary to protect his religion. Police had denied the samiti permission to protest a day earlier, but by morning, heavy bandobast was in place with barricades, deployment of multiple police teams, and officers stationed outside the adjoining Jain temple. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai | Gold Rates Today in Mumbai | Silver Rates Today in Mumbai Several shops in the vicinity remained shut. Protesters engaged in heated arguments with the police, demanding to know why no action was taken against Jain community members who had, last week, forcibly torn down the civic cover around the Kabutarkhana alleged even using knives and scissors. 'This is not a religious issue but a matter for the entire community,' said one protester, adding that if anyone was speaking about picking up weapons, 'they should clarify against whom. We come from the lineage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and are also capable of picking up weapons. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Compare Spreads: Bitcoin vs Ethereum CFDs IC Markets Learn More Undo Marathi manus will not tolerate this.' The crowd repeatedly chanted slogans of 'Marathi mansacha vijay aso.' Samiti member Govardhan Deshmukh accused the home minister of siding with 'a particular community' and ignoring the concerns of locals. 'We had gathered only to speak to the press and give our representation to police against those who threatened to take up arms if pigeon feeding was banned. We were not here to create unrest,' he said. The confrontation comes exactly one week after the Jain community staged their own protest at the same spot against the BMC's pigeon-feeding ban — a protest that ended with them dismantling the civic cover around the Kabutarkhana. The cover however was again put up by the BMC late on Sunday night. The Kabutarkhana, a long-standing feeding spot for pigeons at Dadar, has been at the centre of a civic drive to curb the practice due to public health concerns. In response to the Samiti's protest, Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay clarified that his community would not use weapons and planned to protest peacefully — but only after Paryushan. 'When I said we will pick up shastra, I meant we would go on a hunger strike, following Mahatma Gandhi's path of satyagraha. Even if someone assaults us, we will endure it. If anyone believes we are disrespecting the Marathi manus, let me be clear — we will never take up arms. We believe in ahimsa,' he said. He added that while Rajasthan is the community's janmabhoomi, Maharashtra is their karmabhoomi, and they respect both Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. 'We are a peace-loving trading community. But if court decisions go against us, we will be compelled to protest. We did not use weapons to cut the Kabutarkhana cover — it was cut with a sharp tool used for cutting pipes. Even at Vile Parle, when our temple was demolished, 40,000 of us gathered and protested peacefully without weapons,' he said. Calling MNS chief Raj Thackeray 'the god of the Marathi language,' the monk urged him to intervene and end the controversy. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
NDTV
04-08-2025
- Health
- NDTV
The End Of Mumbai's Kabutarkhanas: History, Health Risks, Opposition
Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has sealed 51 kabutarkhanas (pigeon houses) across Mumbai, acting on a Bombay High Court directive. Among them is the Dadar Kabutarkhana, a heritage site and one of the city's most well-known pigeon-feeding locations. History Of The Dadar Kabutarkhana Established in 1933, the Dadar Kabutarkhana is considered a Grade-II heritage structure. Members of the Jain community and other bird enthusiasts feed pigeons there daily. The area has also been used for small religious activities and community engagement. Why Are Mumbai Kabutarkhanas Closed? On July 31, the Bombay High Court ordered the closure of all kabutarkhanas in Mumbai, saying they posed a threat to public health. The authorities were also instructed to file FIRs under Sections 223, 270, and 271 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) against those violating the order. Avoid demolishing heritage Kabutarkhana structures but ensure they are sealed to prevent further activity, the court said. In line with this order, the BMC sealed the Dadar Kabutarkhana on August 2 using plastic tarpaulins and bamboo structures. The site's electricity supply was also cut off, and surveillance was deployed to prevent further feeding. Health Risks Cited According to the BMC and health authorities, materials such as pigeon droppings, feathers, and nesting debris can spread through the air and cause respiratory illness. The primary concern is "Pigeon Lung," a condition that can affect elderly individuals, children, people with asthma or existing respiratory conditions. Symptoms reported include shortness of breath, allergies, and eye irritation. The KEM Hospital and other health institutions have been asked by the court to submit evidence on health risks caused by pigeon-related pollution. The Maharashtra Human Rights Commission has asked the BMC and health department to submit a detailed report on the health risks within eight weeks. What Happened After It Was Sealed? Pigeons have moved to surrounding streets, especially a 300-metre stretch between Dadar Station and the Kabutarkhana, waiting for food. This has led to traffic disruption and increased accident risks. Jain community members and bird volunteers are now attempting to clear the roads to prevent harm to the birds. The BMC has begun issuing fines of Rs 500 each and has registered at least 16 cases so far. The first FIR under the new directive was filed in Mahim. Authorities are also reportedly penalising shopkeepers found selling grains for pigeon feeding. Public And Religious Reaction Members of the Jain community have opposed these steps, saying that pigeon feeding is part of their religious practice and ethical duty. The kabutarkhanas are mostly located outside Jain premises, such as hostels or derasars (temples). Community leaders and monks argue that sudden closures have led to food scarcity for pigeons. Article 51(A)(g) of the Indian Constitution directs citizens to show compassion toward animals. The Jain community has announced that if feeding is not allowed by August 10, they will go on a hunger strike. Alternative Feeding Zones Under Consideration In response to public concern, BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha has requested the BMC to identify safe, alternative feeding locations. Proposed options include the Bandra-Kurla Complex, Aarey Colony, and Sanjay Gandhi National Park. No decision has been made yet.
