10 August,2025 11:28 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
KDMC Deputy Commissioner (Licences) said a similar notice has been issued every year since 1988, based on a civic resolution passed long ago. Representational pic
The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation's (KDMC) directive to shut all meat shops and slaughterhouses on Independence Day has sparked political controversy, with leaders from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) criticising the move as an infringement on individual food choices, reported PTI.
As per KDMC's order, all slaughterhouses and licensed meat shops - including those selling goat, sheep, chicken, and large animals - must remain closed for 24 hours from midnight of August 14.
The civic body warned of action under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, against those found violating the order, either by slaughtering animals or selling meat during the specified period, reported PTI.
Reacting sharply to the announcement, NCP (SP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jitendra Awhad on Sunday declared he would host a mutton party on August 15 to assert the "freedom" of food preferences.
"I am planning to host a mutton party that day. On the day we got freedom, you are taking away our freedom to eat what we want," Awhad, who represents the Kalwa-Mumbra Assembly constituency in Thane district, told PTI.
Taking to social media platform X earlier on Sunday, he posted: "This is too much. Who are you to decide what people will eat and when?"
KDMC Deputy Commissioner (Licences) Kanchan Gaikwad - who signed the order - told PTI that a similar notice has been issued every year since 1988, based on a civic resolution passed long ago.
She clarified that the order is part of a long-standing administrative tradition to maintain public order and promote respect during national events such as Independence Day.
However, several opposition leaders have raised objections to the justification provided.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray demanded the suspension of the KDMC Commissioner, questioning the right of civic officials to regulate dietary choices.
"Who is the commissioner to tell people whether they can eat non-veg or not?" he questioned.
Suresh Mhatre, Bhiwandi Member of Parliament (MP) and senior NCP (SP) leader, also expressed strong opposition to the directive, describing it as a disregard for the state's diverse food cultures.
"What one should eat and what one shouldn't is a question of the people. The local fishermen community eats vegetarian and non-vegetarian food. Food habits are shaped by customs prevalent in different parts of the state. The ban on the sale of meat is incomprehensible," Mhatre told reporters.
He emphasised that dietary choices are closely tied to cultural identities - especially among coastal communities such as the Agri Koli - and urged civic bodies to show sensitivity towards such traditions.
In contrast, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLA from Kalyan (West), Vishwanath Bhoir, defended the civic body's move.
"People are not opposing the notice. What's the issue if one doesn't eat meat one day? The Opposition only knows how to criticise," Bhoir remarked.
(With PTI inputs)
