<div>The decision of the BJP-Shiv Sena-ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to impose a staggered four-day ban on sale and consumption of meat from September 10 in view of the Jain festival “Paryushan” is uncalled for. In a multicultural, multi-religious country like India where various communities and religious groups observe festivals and celebrations of their choice, governments must not take it upon themselves to impose restrictions on those who do not form part of the observance. For instance, while the government could facilitate the Jain community to observe the Paryushan festival, it would do well not to impose restrictions on what people from other communities should eat during the period of the festivities. <br /><br />This is not the first time that such a ban has been imposed during a festival, but what makes it different is that there has never been a ban for an extended period in Mumbai. The Mira-Bhayandar civic body, to the north of Mumbai, has slapped a ban on meat for eight days. Usually, restrictions are imposed for a day or two, at most. However, the point is not the duration itself but the basis of such bans. In a modern democracy like India, it is not the job of the state to regulate what people eat. It is no one’s case that the sale and consumption of meat by any community should come in the way of a festival’s observance by another community. India has a long history of accommodation, and communities, on their own, voluntarily respect and help other communities observe their specific festivals. That being the case, one fails to understand the eagerness of the administrations to declare a ban on meat due to a festival, thereby restricting the freedoms of those who are not part of the festivities. <br /><br />What is even more deplorable is that festivals are being used by political parties to win the favours of |voters. In this specific instance, the Mumbai civic elections scheduled early 2017 is behind the ruling BJP’s decision to impose an extended ban on meat-eating, a charge made by its own coalition partner, the Shiv Sena. It has charged the BJP of appeasing the Jain community with an eye on its vote. The ban, seen in this context, acquires a not-so-innocent hue. The votaries of the ban tout a 2008 Supreme Court judgement upholding restrictions on meat during Paryushan in the context of Gujarat. But the moot point is whether such bans are being imposed to genuinely respect the sentiments of a particular community or whether they are being merely used as tools to further narrow political goals. <br /></div>
<div>The decision of the BJP-Shiv Sena-ruled Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to impose a staggered four-day ban on sale and consumption of meat from September 10 in view of the Jain festival “Paryushan” is uncalled for. In a multicultural, multi-religious country like India where various communities and religious groups observe festivals and celebrations of their choice, governments must not take it upon themselves to impose restrictions on those who do not form part of the observance. For instance, while the government could facilitate the Jain community to observe the Paryushan festival, it would do well not to impose restrictions on what people from other communities should eat during the period of the festivities. <br /><br />This is not the first time that such a ban has been imposed during a festival, but what makes it different is that there has never been a ban for an extended period in Mumbai. The Mira-Bhayandar civic body, to the north of Mumbai, has slapped a ban on meat for eight days. Usually, restrictions are imposed for a day or two, at most. However, the point is not the duration itself but the basis of such bans. In a modern democracy like India, it is not the job of the state to regulate what people eat. It is no one’s case that the sale and consumption of meat by any community should come in the way of a festival’s observance by another community. India has a long history of accommodation, and communities, on their own, voluntarily respect and help other communities observe their specific festivals. That being the case, one fails to understand the eagerness of the administrations to declare a ban on meat due to a festival, thereby restricting the freedoms of those who are not part of the festivities. <br /><br />What is even more deplorable is that festivals are being used by political parties to win the favours of |voters. In this specific instance, the Mumbai civic elections scheduled early 2017 is behind the ruling BJP’s decision to impose an extended ban on meat-eating, a charge made by its own coalition partner, the Shiv Sena. It has charged the BJP of appeasing the Jain community with an eye on its vote. The ban, seen in this context, acquires a not-so-innocent hue. The votaries of the ban tout a 2008 Supreme Court judgement upholding restrictions on meat during Paryushan in the context of Gujarat. But the moot point is whether such bans are being imposed to genuinely respect the sentiments of a particular community or whether they are being merely used as tools to further narrow political goals. <br /></div>
