'Not interested in knowing who eats what, have other issues': Fadnavis on meat shop closure controversy

Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the state government is not interested in regulating people's food choices and knowing who eats what. He also described the controversy over closure of meat shops in some cities on Independence Day as "unnecessary".

He noted municipal corporations take such decisions on their own. This has come after some civic bodies in Maharashtra ordered the closure of slaughterhouses and shops selling meat on August 15 - thus triggering a controversy.

While speaking about the issue, he said, "The state government is not interested in (knowing) who eats what. We have many other issues to address."

"The state never took such a decision. A government resolution (GR) was issued in August 1988. Municipal corporations take such decisions (ordering closure of slaughterhouses) on their own. Even I was not aware of such a GR existing for such a long period." "I also learned about it (GR) through the media. Similar decisions were taken when (Shiv Sena UBT leader) Uddhav Thackeray was chief minister of Maharashtra (November 2019-June 22)," he further said.

The Chief Minister's statement came one day after Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar expressed displeasure over the civic bodies ordering the closure of meat shops and slaughterhouses on August 15, saying that such a ban was wrong and such types of restrictions are usually imposed considering faith-related sensitivities on occasions like Ashadhi Ekadashi, Mahashivratri and Mahavir Jayanti.

While speaking to the media, Pawar said, "It is wrong to impose such a ban. In major cities, people of different castes and religions reside. If it is an emotional issue, then people accept it (ban) for a day. But if you clamp such orders on Maharashtra Day, Independence Day and Republic Day, then it is difficult."

For the uninitiated, the civic bodies of Kalyan Dombivali in Thane district near Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur have issued orders directing the closure of meat shops on August 15. There are reports that the Malegaon Municipal Corporation in Nashik district, too, has issued such an order.

(With agency inputs)