‘We have many other issues to address’: Devendra Fadnavis after civic bodies ban meat sale on Independence Day

Some civic bodies in Maharashtra have ordered the closure of slaughterhouses and shops selling meat on August 15, triggering a controversy.

By: PTI
Mumbai | Updated: August 14, 2025 12:45 IST

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis (File photo)

Amidst controversy over civic bodies’ order on the closure of slaughterhouses and meat shops in parts of Maharashtra on Independence Day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Wednesday the government is “not interested in regulating who eats what”.

After Kalyan-Dombivli, Nagpur, Malegaon, Jalgaon, and other civic bodies issued the order to close slaughterhouses and meat shops in their jurisdictions for 24 hours on August 15, the Opposition accused the Maharashtra chief minister of curbing individual freedom over the choice of food.

While speaking to reporters, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the decision was taken by individual civic bodies, and was not thrust by the government. “We have many other issues to address,” he said, adding such a step was “unnecessary”.

Fadnavis also said he was unaware of the government resolution (GR) that allows closure of abattoirs on certain days, including Independence Day, and individual civic bodies can take such a decision. “When I sought information from the civic body, I was told this [GR] was in existence since the 1988 Congress government,” he added.

Also read | I-Day meat ban by Maharashtra civic bodies: Why even BJP allies are crying foul

On Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar called the meat ban order ridiculous. “It is an individual’s right to decide what to eat and not eat. We have to respect everybody’s diversity, culture, tradition, and food habits,” he said.

“While it is important to keep public sentiments and faith in mind on certain religious occasions such as Ashadi Ekadhasi or Mahavir Jayanti…, there is no reason why there should be a ban on meat and non-vegetarian food on Maharashtra Day, Independence Day or Republic Day,” Pawar said.

While Fadnavis and Pawar dismissed the order, the Maharashtra unit of the BJP has put out a strong defence, arguing it was in existence since the Congress regime.

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On Monday, BJP Media Cell in-charge Navnath Ban furnished documents to substantiate that the order was issued by the then Congress government led by Shankarrao Chavan. He added that the same decision was implemented in Nagpur Municipal Corporation during the Maha Vikas Aghadi government under Uddhav Thackeray in 2021.

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