Haryana Becomes Fifth BJP-ruled State to Ban Meat

The BJP has drawn sharp criticism with several social activists and opposition parties alleging that the ruling government had no right to tell the people what to eat.

NEW DELHI: Joining the list of authorities that have prohibited meat sale in view of religious observances, Fatehabad Municipal Council (FMC) has banned the slaughter of animals for nine days on account of the Jain 'Paryushan Parv' festival.

The notice issued by FMC to slaughterhouse owners has warned them of legal action in case they violate the order, which came into effect yesterday. The move by the civic body comes even as a row has erupted over meat sale ban in some parts of Maharashtra and Rajasthan during the Jain festival. Chhattisgarh government yesterday ordered suspension of sale of meat for the eight-day-long fasting period and 'Ganesh Chaturthi' festival while the Ludhiana Police Commissionerate imposed a one-day ban on the sale of non-vegetarian items during the Jain festival of 'Samvatsari' on September 17.

However, a key municipal body in Mumbai yesterday withdrew its ban on slaughter and sale of meat for two days in the wake of widespread protests and criticism as well from  high court, which said such restrictions cannot be imposed in a city like Mumbai. The civic body's decision means that the Maharashtra state capital will now go without meat only on September 17. The order by FMC evoked sharp reactions from the Meat Market Association here, whose spokesman Salim said that they held a protest over that outside their shops.

"This is the first time that such a ban order has been issued. It is ironical why no such order is issued during Navratri," Salim told reporters here. The state government had last month asked its officers concerned to appeal to slaughterhouse owners in the state to stay closed for business between September 11 and 19 in view of Paryushan Parv.

Noting that the nine-day annual festival is observed by the Jain community for "self-purification", Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain had earlier said that the commissioners of municipal corporations and deputy commissioners, executive officers of municipal councils and municipalities have been asked to appeal to the owners of slaughterhouses not to slaughter animals during that period.

The minister had said that representatives of Jain community had met her and urged her to ban slaughter of animals during the festival. She further said that the festival was one of non-violence and friendship and is for bringing peace in society.