IMC imposes meat ban on Hindu and Jain festivals

After Mumbai, now the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has imposed a ban on slaughter and sale of meat on Hindu and Jain religious festivals this month.

After Mumbai, now the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has imposed a ban on slaughter and sale of meat on Hindu and Jain religious festivals this month.

Following the government's directives the Indore Municipal Commissioner has passed an order imposing ban on slaughtering and sale of meat and any kind of non-vegetarian food on 17th (Ganesh Chaturthi), 18th (Paryushan Parva Samvatsari - festival of forgiveness) and 27th September (Anant Chaturdashi).

Apart from the ban on the sale of meat, fish and chicken, the ban will also be effective on hotels and restaurants serving non-vegetarian dishes.

This is for the first time the municipal body has issued orders for imposing such a ban on sale of non-vegetarian food items on Ganesh Chaturthi, Paryushan Parva or Anant Chaturdashi.

Commenting over the matter, the municipal commissioner Manish Singh said, "It is purely an administrative decision."

"The religious sentiments of many people are attached to these festivals, it is essential to impose ban on sale of meat on these days to avert any untoward incidents," said Singh.

In the municipal corporation, the ruling Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) holds absolute majority with 65 out of the total 85 seats. The imposition of ban on sale of meat by a municipal body in Mumbai recently had attracted wide criticism from all quarters.

However, the IMC went a step ahead and imposed ban on sale of meat on Anant Chaturdashi falling on 27th September also.

All slaughter houses, mutton and fish markets, hotels and restaurants serving non-vegetarian dishes shall remain closed on these three days, read a civic body communique.