The BMC has agreed to impose a four-day ban on the sale of meat in Mumbai. No animals will be slaughtered across abattoirs and meat markets will remain shut on September 10, 13, 17 and 18. However, restaurants are allowed to serve meat. The Jain community observes a fast for eight days, Paryushan, which will be observed from September 10 to 17 this year, and hence the meat ban.

Certain senior BJP legislators met civic chief Ajoy Mehta, demanding the ban. This evoked protests from Shiv Sena and other parties, arguing that neither the civic body nor a community had the right to decide what others eat. Naturally, the ban has created a huge controversy and has pitted those supporting it against the many who oppose it. Leaving aside the political colour, with the opposition party quite rightly — though in this regard — accusing the BJP of appeasing a certain community, the ban not only sets a bad but also a dangerous precedent in a city known for its diversity and cosmopolitanism.