A heated debate is underway in Mumbai, centered on the closure of slaughterhouses during the Jain community’s Paryushan Parva. The Jain community, advocating for a complete shutdown of slaughterhouses during the nine-day festival, emphasizes religious principles of compassion and non-violence. This stance clashes with objections from the Khatik community and several political groups, who view the demand as an infringement on dietary rights.
The Mumbai High Court initially ruled in favor of a two-day closure (August 24th and 27th), rejecting the Jain community’s request for a nine-day closure. The Jain community has contested this ruling, with a subsequent hearing slated for two weeks later. The court maintained its position, stating that no legal provision supports a nine-day closure order.
The Jain community’s arguments emphasize that the Jain population in Mumbai and Maharashtra is larger than in Gujarat. They reference a Supreme Court ruling that approved a short-term closure in Gujarat and argue for a similar approach in Mumbai. Organizations like the Seth Moti Shaw Lalbag Jain Trust and the Seth Bherulal Ji Kothari Trust are supporting the cause.
The Jain community highlights the prevalence of vegetarianism in Mumbai and historical instances where slaughterhouses were closed for extended periods. Conversely, the Mumbai authorities, including the Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra government, counter that Mumbai has a significant non-vegetarian population and rely on the Deonar slaughterhouse for essential supplies for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). They express concerns about the potential economic and supply chain disruptions caused by a nine-day closure.
The demand has attracted criticism from various groups. The Khatik community, along with organizations like the Sakal Marathi Samaj and meat industry associations, views the request as a religious imposition that jeopardizes employment and disrupts consumers. Political parties, including the Congress, MNS, UBT Shiv Sena, and AIMIM, oppose the demand, emphasizing the freedom of choice in dietary matters. They highlight that a similar request on August 15th had also been met with political resistance.
The BJP has adopted a neutral stance, recognizing the Jain community’s traditional support for the party. However, opposition parties are critical of the Jain community’s demand and see it as a religious imposition.
Approximately 2 million Jain people reside in Mumbai. The slaughterhouse closure issue has acquired political overtones. The number of Jain followers exceeds 4 million in areas surrounding Mumbai, including Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Kalyan, Dombivli, Bhiwandi, Vasai-Virar, and Mira-Bhayander.
The debate has morphed into a battle between religious principles and economic concerns. The forthcoming local elections in Mumbai and Maharashtra are adding to the political dynamics. The BJP wants to retain the support of the Jain community, while opposition parties are vying for the votes of minority and majority groups. Despite the court’s limited two-day closure, the issue has escalated into a political and social dispute in Mumbai, where religious values, economic interests, and political strategies are intertwined.