Security stepped up in Kalyan ahead of August 15 meat sale ban

The police on Thursday said that security has been stepped up in the Kalyan area as some political parties and butcher associations have warned of a protest against the local civic bodys order for closure of meat shops and abattoirs on Independence Day reported news agency PTIVarious municipal corporations in Maharashtra including KalyanDombivli in Thane district Nagpur Nashik Malegaon and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have issued orders directing the closure of slaughterhouses and meat shops within their jurisdiction on August 15Some of them have said these facilities will remain shut on certain other days too in view of Hindu and Jain festivalsRuling allies BJP and NCP have spoken in different voices on the issue while Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said the government was not interested in policing peoples food choices reported PTIDeputy Commissioner of Police Zone III Kalyan Atul Zende said security has been heightened in the KalyanDombivli civic limits and they were keeping a close watch on the situation to avert any eventuality reported PTICertain political parties have warned of agitation in the vicinity of the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation KDMC including putting up meat stalls selling meat and organising gatherings Those who are likely to resort to such activities will be served with notices he said reported PTIThe police are also considering issuing prohibitory orders to maintain law and order the official saidWe have learnt about most of the proposed agitations through social media Only a few political parties have formally approached us for permission Zende added reported PTIThe KDMC recently issued an order stating all slaughterhouses and licensed butchers of goats sheep chickens and large animals must remain closed for 24 hours from midnight of August 14 till midnight of August 15The civic body warned of action under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act 1949 if any animal is slaughtered or meat is sold during the specified periodAmid criticism of the order from various quarters KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goel on Wednesday said the restriction on the sale of meat was not new reported PTIThis order has been in place since 1988 and is issued every year Several other civic bodies also have similar policies The ban applies not only to August 15 but also to Gandhi Jayanti Mahavir Jayanti Paryushan Ganesh Chaturthi and Sadhu Vaswanis birth anniversary It is based on a report by the corporations health officer Goel told reportersThe Nationalist Congress Party NCP led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has questioned the closure while its ally in the ruling Mahayuti coalition the BJP defended the move citing a 1988 state government resolution GR empowering civic bodies to impose such restrictions reported PTIOpposition parties have also criticised the moveThe BJP has said the policy to keep abattoirs shut on Independence Day was first implemented in 1988 when NCP SP president Sharad Pawar was the chief minister of Maharashtra and sought to know if the opposition would question the veteran politician about it reported PTIChief Minister Fadnavis on Wednesday asserted the state government was not interested in regulating peoples food choices and described the row over abattoir closures on Independence Day as an unnecessary controversyDeputy CM Ajit Pawar on Tuesday expressed displeasure over some civic bodies ordering the closure of slaughterhouses and shops selling meat on August 15 saying it was wrong to impose such a banSuch types of restrictions are generally imposed considering faithrelated sensitivities on occasions like Ashadhi Ekadashi Mahashivratri and Mahavir Jayanti he saidShiv Sena UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray earlier said the KalyanDombivli civic commissioner should be suspended as it was not for him to dictate peoples dietary choices reported PTIThe Congress has claimed the Mahayuti government was creating controversies on nonsensical issues such as pigeonfeeding in cities and banning the sale of meat on Independence Day to divert attention from serious issuesThe BJP was stoking castebased and communal tensions as part of its political strategy state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal allegedNCP SP MLA Jitendra Awhad has said he would host a mutton party on August 15 to highlight the freedom of subjective food preferences reported PTIAIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has also opposed the decision by municipal corporations to shut down slaughterhouses and meat shops on August 15 terming it unconstitutional and sought to know the link between meat consumption and Independence Day celebrationsWith inputs from PTI