The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has banned animal slaughter and sale of meat in Mumbai for four days this month. This comes days after the BJP ruled Mira-Bhayander municipal corporation banned the sale of meat in the area for eight days during the Jain fasting period called Paryushan.

The BMC took the call to continue the ban which was first enforced a few years ago based on a 1964 and 1994 corporation resolution. The state government too had passed a similar resolution in 2004, where the BMC was asked to shut down slaughter houses during the Jain fasting season. (Read: Na Khayenge Na Khane Denge: Dear BJP and BMC, can you please leave my food alone?)

A demand for the ban was made by several Jain organisations and then backed by the BJP. BJP legislators Raj Purohit and Atul Bhatkhalkar had written to the BMC chief endorsing the demands from the Jain organisations.

According to BMC officials, the meat ban will be in place on September 10,13,17 and 18. On these days, BMC slaughter houses will be shut and sale of meat will also be prohibited. The BMC's markets department has been asked to enforce the ban.