Ajit Pawar, Aaditya Thackeray Slam Meat Ban; Shinde Sena Denies State Involvement

New Delhi

A nationwide debate has erupted after multiple civic bodies ordered slaughterhouses and meat shops to remain shut on Independence Day. Leaders from various political parties criticised the move, calling it an attack on people’s freedom to choose their food, especially on a day that symbolises independence.

In Hyderabad, AIMIM chief and MP Asaduddin Owaisi slammed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) for directing closures on August 15 and 16 — Independence Day and Janmashtami. He called the decision callous and unconstitutional, questioning the link between eating meat and celebrating the nation’s freedom. Owaisi argued that such bans infringe upon liberty, privacy, livelihood, culture, nutrition, and religion, especially in a state where a majority consume meat.

In Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar opposed a similar order, saying diverse communities coexist in cities, and while some may accept a one-day closure for emotional reasons, repeated bans on national days are unreasonable.

In Thane’s Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation, a meat ban prompted a strong reaction from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, who demanded the municipal commissioner’s suspension. He said food choices on Independence Day are a matter of personal freedom, adding that even during festivals like Navratri, certain communities serve seafood as part of tradition. Thackeray urged civic bodies to prioritise fixing pothole-ridden roads instead of policing diets.

Responding to criticism, Arun Sawant, spokesperson for the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, clarified that the Maharashtra government had not implemented any such ban, accusing the Opposition of spreading false allegations to tarnish the state’s image.