Meat Ban Row: 'What is the connection between eating meat and celebrating Independence Day?' Questions raised on meat ban order; Who said what?

A major political controversy has erupted after several municipal bodies in the country ordered meat shops and slaughterhouses to remain closed on this Independence Day. Many politicians, breaking party lines, have described this ban as a crackdown on people's freedom of food. They say that the country is celebrating its independence, and during this time, freedom is being violated.

Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the order of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to keep slaughterhouses and meat shops closed on 15 and 16 August (Independence Day and Janmashtami). He wrote, 'It seems that many municipal corporations in the country have ordered to keep slaughterhouses and meat shops closed on 15 August. Unfortunately, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has also given a similar order. This is harsh and unconstitutional.' Owaisi said, 'What is the connection between eating meat and celebrating Independence Day? 99% of the people of Telangana eat meat. Such decisions as a meat ban violate people's right to freedom, privacy, livelihood, culture, nutrition, and religion.'

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar objected to a similar meat ban order in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar in Maharashtra. Ajit said, 'It is wrong to impose such a ban. People of different castes and religions live in big cities. If it is an emotional issue, then people accept it for a day, but if you impose such orders on Maharashtra Day, Independence Day, and Republic Day, then it is difficult.'

Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation, located in Thane near Mumbai, has also issued a similar directive. Shiv Sena (Uddhav faction) leader Aditya Thackeray said that the Municipal Commissioner should be suspended. It is not his job to decide who eats what. He said, 'What we eat on Independence Day is our right, our freedom. They cannot tell us what we should eat. Why are you entering our homes? The Municipal Corporation should focus on issues like potholes on the roads.'

Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena spokesperson Arun Sawant said the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government in Maharashtra has not approved the meat ban. "The opposition is levelling false allegations against the state government and trying to defame it," he said.