A political controversy has erupted after several municipal corporations across India ordered slaughterhouses and meat shops to remain closed on August 15, with some extending the closure to August 16 for Janmashtami.
AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the Hyderabad municipal body’s directive, calling it “callous and unconstitutional.” He stated on X (formerly Twitter), “What’s the connection between eating meat and celebrating Independence Day? 99% of Telangana’s people eat meat. These meat bans violate people’s right to liberty, privacy, livelihood, culture, nutrition, and religion.”
Similar bans in Maharashtra, including Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Kalyan-Dombivli, Malegaon, and Nagpur, have sparked heated political debates. The ruling alliance in Maharashtra appeared divided, with NCP leaders questioning the rationale, while BJP defended the move, citing a 1988 state order allowing municipal restrictions on specific occasions.
Opposition parties, including Congress and MNS, alleged the bans aim to impose vegetarianism and distract from civic issues like potholes and traffic. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray condemned the ban, emphasizing citizens’ freedom of choice during festivals and Independence Day. BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban highlighted that similar bans were enforced under previous governments, accusing critics of hypocrisy.
