Last year, Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation had proposed eight-day meat ban, while Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had pitched for four-day meat ban during Paryushan.
After the controversy around the eight-day meat ban imposed by Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) four-day meat ban last year, both the civic bodies have decided to go slow this year.
Earlier this month, MBMC passed a resolution deciding on a two-day meat ban during the eight-day Jain festival of Paryushan, which began on August 29. Similarly, as per the state government directive, the BMC also announced on Friday that Deonar slaughterhouse and abattoirs across the city would only be shut for two days i.e. on August 29 and September 5.
However, though BMC has gone soft on the issue this year, it is still opposed by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). According to a report, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader and workers were taken into custody by police on Monday for protesting against the closure of slaughterhouses and abattoirs. Party leader Sandeep Deshpande and some party workers were allegedly protesting near Siddhivinayak Temple at Agar Bazaar.
Last year too as a mark of protest, BJP's ally Shiv Sena and MNS workers had taken to street to protest against the ban by setting up meat stalls in Dadar, Thane and other places in Mumbai.
Why have civic bodies mellowed their stance?
While on one hand the ruling BJP was accused of appeasement as they tried to impose the ban last year, the judiciary ensured that such policies are not imposed. Bombay High Court (HC) had questioned BMC as to who gave government the permission to impose a two-day ban. “Is it according to law?” HC had asked. It had also said, “You cannot have this formula for a modern city like Mumbai.”
When Supreme Court was approached by the Shree Tapagachiya Atma Kamal Labhdisuriswarji Gyanmandir Trust, a trust of minority Jains against the High Court order, the apex court dismissed the plea against the order and said that there should be a a spirit of "tolerance and accommodation".
So are the civic bodies back to square one?
A 1964 resolution passed by BMC directed a two-day prohibition on sale of meat on demands of Jains. In 2004, Congress-NCP government at the state passed another resolution extending the ban to four days. However, both the civic bodies have taken a safe stance by following the previous resolution.
What is Paryushan?
Jains believe in the concept of non-violence and celebrate Paryushan by fasting, meditating and offering prayers to their deity. Since, they believe that no life should be harmed; during this eight-day period their diet consists mostly of pulses as they believe that vegetables grown underground kill life present in soil too. Also they can't have any food or water after sun-down.
The word Paryushan means 'coming closer', thus through this festival they try coming closer to their soul.
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 "MNS Meat ban protest")
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