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India Today
12-08-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Meat sale banned in Kalyan on Independence Day, order sparks political storm
The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation's (KDMC) order banning the sale of meat on Independence Day has triggered a political row, with leaders from the Opposition NCP (SP) and Shiv Sena (UBT) slamming it as an attack on people's food per the KDMC order, all slaughterhouses and shops of licenced butchers of goats, sheep, chickens, and large animals must remain closed for 24 hours from midnight of August 14 till midnight of August civic body warned of action under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, if any animal is slaughtered or meat is sold during this period. KDMC Deputy Commissioner (Licenses) Kanchan Gaikwad said the order has been issued every year since 1988 as part of a civic resolution aimed at ensuring public order and the observance of important national Commissioner Yogesh Godse clarified that there is a ban on the sale of mutton and chicken but no ban on eating it, adding that the order is not new and is also implemented on Republic the Opposition reacted sharply. NCP (SP) MLA Jitendra Awhad announced he would host a mutton party on August 15 to assert "freedom" of food preferences."On the day we got freedom, you are taking away our freedom to eat what we want," he said, also posting on X, "This is too much. Who are you to decide what people will eat and when?"Bhiwandi MP Suresh Mhatre of the NCP (SP) also opposed the move, calling it an infringement on traditional food habits. "Wherever there is a sea in the world, people's diets match their surroundings. What someone wants to eat or not eat is their personal matter. This restriction is not justified," he said, pointing to the cultural food practices of the Agri-Koli (West) MLA and ruling Shiv Sena leader Vishwanath Bhoir defended the order, saying, "If one day passes without eating meat, what will happen? Ordinary people are not complaining. The municipal administration acts in the interest of citizens."'OUR PRASAD HAS PRAWNS, FISH'Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray demanded the suspension of the KDMC commissioner for "dictating people's food choices". "What we eat on Independence Day is our right, our freedom. They cannot tell us whether to eat veg or non-veg. In our house, even on Navratri, our prasad has prawns, fish, because this is our tradition, this is our Hinduism... This is not a matter of religion, and it is not a matter of national interest," he questioned the authority of the commissioner, stating, "Who is the commissioner to tell people whether they can eat non-veg or not? We will definitely eat non-veg."- EndsMust Watch
Scroll.in
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Maharashtra: Row erupts after Kalyan-Dombivli civic body bans meat sale on Independence Day
The municipal corporation of Kalyan-Dombivli in Maharashtra's Thane has ordered all slaughterhouses and meat shops in its jurisdiction to stay closed on Independence Day, reported The Indian Express on Monday. The Opposition parties have described the action as 'food policing'. In a notice signed by Deputy Commissioner Kanchan Gaikwad, the municipal corporation said that slaughterhouses and licensed butchers of goats, sheep, chickens and large animals should stay closed from midnight of August 14 till midnight of August 15, PTI reported. It also warned of action under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act if the order is violated. Gaikwad claimed that the action was taken in consideration of long-standing administrative resolutions to ensure public order and the observance of important national occasions, the news agency reported. The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation is under administrative rule, with the municipal commissioner acting as the administrator on behalf of the state government. Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) MLA Jitendra Awhad claimed that the ruling Mahayuti alliance was 'fuelling a vegetarian–non-vegetarian divide' after having 'exhausted other social controversies', The Indian Express reported. The Mahayuti alliance comprises the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena group led by former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Nationalist Congress Party faction led by Ajit Pawar. Sharad Pawar's faction of the NCP, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the Congress are part of the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi. Awhad also questioned whether the state government would now decide on when to eat non-vegetarian food. 'I am planning to host a mutton party that day, [Independence Day]' the NCP(SP) MLA from the Mumbra-Kalwa seat told PTI on Sunday. 'On the day we got freedom, you are taking away our freedom to eat what we want.' Awhad's party colleague and MP Suresh Mhatre also described the action as 'unacceptable' and said that food choices are rooted in cultural traditions, particularly in the coastal Agri-Koli community, The Indian Express reported. He added that such a ban cannot be imposed. Uddhav Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray demanded the suspension of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation commissioner. 'Bridges are collapsing, roads are in terrible shape, and instead of fixing them, the administration is busy banning food,' Thackeray said. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Vishwanath Bhoir claimed that there was no public objection about the ban, The Indian Express reported. 'If people follow become vegetarian for one day, what is the harm?' the Kalyan MLA asked, adding that criticism was the job of the Opposition. Plea in Telangana HC A petition has also been filed in the Telangana High Court against a recent order by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation directing the closure of beef shops and slaughterhouses on Independence Day and Janmashtami, Bar and Bench reported. Janmashtami is an annual Hindu festival that celebrates the birth of the deity Krishna and will be observed on August 16. The petition filed by Vadla Srikanth, a law student, was listed before Justice B Vijaysen Reddy on Monday. Reddy directed the municipal corporation to explain the reasoning for the decision. The matter was listed for further hearing on Wednesday. The petition claimed that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation ordered the closure without any cause of action or statutory powers, Bar and Bench reported. 'The decision to close down the cattle slaughter houses, meat shops, etc. is taken without citing any reasons and the said letter is a blatant example of colorable exercise of authority without any reason whatsoever,' the petition said. The livelihood of the traders cannot be harmed and they deserve to know why their businesses need to be closed on August 15 and 16, it added. Calling the order 'arbitrary' and 'illegal', the petition also said that it violated Articles 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution.
Indian Express
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Kalyan-Dombivli civic body bans meat sale, slaughter on Independence Day; NCP(SP) leader Jitendra Awhad plans ‘mutton party'
The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has ordered the closure of all slaughterhouses and meat shops in its jurisdiction for 24 hours on August 15, Independence Day. The civic body said the restriction will apply to all licensed butchers dealing in goats, sheep, chicken, and large animals, and will remain in force from midnight on August 14. 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.
News18
11-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
NCP Leader To Host Mutton Feast As Meat Ban On I-Day Triggers Political Row In Kalyan-Dombivli
Last Updated: Jitendra Awhad termed the move a 'blatant attack on personal freedom' and an attempt to create animosity among communities A civic order from the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) asking meat shops to shut on Independence Day has snowballed into a heated political controversy, with opposition leaders accusing the administration of 'dictating food choices" and threatening to defy the ban. The KDMC notice, signed by Deputy Commissioner (Licensing) Kanchan Gaikwad, mandates all slaughterhouses and licensed butchers dealing in goats, sheep, chicken, and large animals to remain closed from midnight of August 14 till midnight of August 15. It warns of action under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, if any meat is sold or animals are slaughtered during the period. Explaining the rationale, Gaikwad said the directive follows a long-standing administrative practice of keeping such establishments shut on major national occasions to maintain 'public order and dignity" of the day. But the decision has been met with fierce opposition. NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad was among the first to react, terming the move a 'blatant attack on personal freedom". He announced plans to host a mutton party on Independence Day as an act of defiance. 'On the day our country got freedom, you are taking away our freedom to eat what we want," Awhad said. 'This is nothing but an attempt to create animosity among communities. The people of Kalyan-Dombivli will oppose this tooth and nail." Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray joined the chorus, demanding 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," he remarked. The controversy has also reached the state cabinet's attention. Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said he would look into the matter. 'We need to check the rule, law, and power under which the commissioner issued this order. It is also important to verify if there was any public demand for such a prohibition," he said. While meat bans on specific days are not new in parts of Maharashtra, the timing of the order—on a day celebrated for freedom and choice—has amplified its political sensitivity. For many residents, the debate has shifted from meat to a larger question of individual rights and the role of civic bodies in dictating lifestyle choices. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
