MUMBAI: Activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) today put up a non-veg food stall outside a Jain-dominated housing society here to protest against meat sale ban during 'Paryushan' festival.
MNS party workers shouted slogans and publicly ate chicken outside 'Jai housing society' in suburban Vile Parle. They also displayed banners which read "Yes, we will eat non-veg". MNS chief Raj Thackeray had on Thursday said the Jains cannot decide the policies of the state and vowed his party's support to those willing to sell meat in the state. Meanwhile, Jain sadhus today met Shiv Sena President Uddhav Thackeray at his residence in suburban Bandra.
Members of the Jain community in Mira-Bhayander yesterday sat on a two-hour fast and chanted sacred mantras and songs to protest against the politicisation of the meat ban issue. Around 700 Jains gathered outside the Bavan Jinalaya Jain temple where temple priest Acharya Sagarchandra Sagar Surishwar led the chanting and prayers.
Several Jains had objected to the remarks in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna' warning Jains not to impose their vegetarian code on other communities. The Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation (MBMC) had imposed an eight-day ban on the slaughter and sale of meat in the region. The ruling BJP had moved the proposal.
Following public outcry and political pressure the ban was reduced to two days as allowed by the state government.