Bhayandar : An appeal by the Vasai-Virar and Mira-Bhayandar municipal corporations to keep chicken, mutton and fish shops closed on the first and last days of the Jain community’s Paryushan Parva has triggered a controversy.
“When the government order only directs slaughterhouses to remain closed, how can the civic bodies appeal for closure of meat shops?” he said. He said the Congress would counter the appeal by keeping meat shops open on the two days. Vasai-Virar assistant municipal commissioner (AMC) Jitendra Kini said the appeal did not amount to a ban or impose any compulsion on shopkeepers.
The move has drawn strong opposition from the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti. Its president, Govardhan Deshmukh, alleged that the civic bodies were attempting to create discord between communities. Vasai-Virar district Congress president Captain Nilesh Pendhari has also opposed the move. He alleged that the civic body had issued the appeal to appease a particular community.