Sunday Interview: ‘Killing is on for 365 days. Will 8 days make a difference?’

What was the idea behind bringing a meat ban for eight days during Paryushan?
In 2008, Surat Municipal Corporation in Gujarat had brought in a similar proposal of meat ban during Paryushan. A few people went to the High Court and then the Supreme Court opposing the ban. However, the Supreme Court directed that municipal corporations having a Jain majority could bring such proposals. This is not something new that I have started.

But you were the first to propose an eight day ban in Mira-Bhayander Municipal Corporation?
That is not true. The Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party had got the proposal of meat ban of eight days in 2011 when ruling the MBMC. Nobody had raised any objection to the proposal nor did it create any controversy then. In fact, I wonder why the issue has been politicised now as it is not new. Also the Congress-NCP had banned fish and eggs along with meat. We have exempted that and banned only the slaughtering of chicken and goats.

Your own ally Shiv Sena is also opposing the decision.
The agenda, including the proposal for a ban on the sale of meat for eight days, was circulated to all the corporators two days before the general body meeting. If the Shiv Sena,

Congress and NCP wanted to oppose the proposal, they should have remained present in the house when the issue came up for discussion. We have 29 corporators in the house of 95 members. But many corporators from other parties were absent and the proposal was passed with majority vote. We also have Maharashtrians, Schedule Castes and Punjabi members who supported the proposal.

The Opposition parties in Maharashtra are objecting to the ban by pointing at how the Jains have an upper hand over the sons of soil.
I do not understand that kind of politics. I am trying to spread the message of Bhagwan Mahavir.

The Supreme Court’s directives are for majority. How many Jain people reside in MBMC?
The total population is eight lakh of which 1.5 lakh are Jains.

Then the directives are not applicable in this case?
It was a demand from the community to stop violent acts during Paryushan period. Our Jain sadhus are pained to see slaughtering of animals when they pass shops during Paryushan. It was their wish to keep shops closed at least during the pious period of our community.

What is violence? Is only slaughtering of animals violence?
Hurting sentiments of anyone, even yours, is violence for us. We would immediately say “Michchhami Dukkadam” (seeking forgiveness from others if their sentiments are hurt in thoughts, words or deeds) to you.

Don’t you think that banning meat, which is regular food for many, amounts to hurting their sentiments?
I did not move the proposal to hurt the sentiments of any community. I belong to the Jain community and believe in the principle of “non-violence”. We have not asked anyone to not eat non-vegetarian food. But do not slaughter animals for eight days during Paryushan. There is no ban on eating meat at their homes. They can keep frozen food, they can store it, eat fish and eggs. I did not think that the issue should get blown up so much.

Please do not politicise the matter; our religious sentiments are attached to it. Slaughtering is on for 365 days. We have asked to stop it for just eight days. Are eight days going to make a big difference?

Your demand for a meat ban has given a boost to others. Beef is banned in Maharashtra, but now some Muslim groups are demanding that the slaughter of bulls and bullocks be allowed during Ramzan.
I do not know about that. I took the constitutional way and demanded my right. I have done something for my community in my capacity as a corporator.

The issue has turned into a confrontation — Jain community versus Hindu community.
I do not think that it is Jain versus Hindus. Our ancestors were Hindus only. We are also Hindu. In every society, there are brahmins, a few are Buddhists and in a similar way we are Jains. Whenever someone asks me about my residence, identity, I tell them that I am a Hindustani. That is my real identity.

Will you support a similar ban on meat for the Hindu community during the month of Shravan?
If anything is in favour of non-violence then I will certainly think about it.

Will you bring a similar proposal next year despite the opposition and controversy today?
I am firm in my views. I am against any kind of killing.