Naypadmasagarji Maharaj

Mira-Bhayandar

Jain

BJP

BJP-ruled Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation

Narendra Modi

claims CM Fadnavis promised him that meat shops inwill remain shut for eight days during ParyushanAn influentialmonk was the BJP's mascot in the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation elections held yesterday. Naypadmasagarji Maharaj, who has a large following within the community in the city and across the world, is believed to have swung around 30,000 votes in favour of theafter he posted a video message a few days ago, urging his followers to support “the only party that will upheld vegetarianism“ in Mira-Bhayandar and the entire country.The results of the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation elections are expected to be announced today.Naypadmasagarji had also billed the BMC elections this year as a contest between vegetarians and non-vegetarians, and declared that only those candidates who promised to shut meat shops in the city during paryushan, when Jains fast for eight days, will get the community's votes.At that time, he had not openly supported any party.A few days before the Mira-Bhayandar civic polls, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the party's in-charge for the polls Shaina NC, and other senior BJP leaders met the monk, who claimed Fadnavis had promised that no slaughter house will be allowed to remain open for eight days of paryushan.In fact, in 2015, Naypadmasagarji and other community leaders had registered a strong protest after the eight-day meat shop shutdown in thewas curtailed to two days, and the four-day shutdown in the BMC jurisdiction was reduced to two days, after all political parties supported the butchers and meat dealers.While Fadnavis did not respond to messages, Shaina NC, the BJP's in-charge of the MiraBhayandar civic polls, confirmed the meeting with Naypadmasagarji. “A few of us, including the CM, met with Naypadmasagarji. We are a diverse society, and Jains expect cooperation during Paryushan. I don't think he is asking for too much,“ Shaina said. When asked about his demands, she said, “He wants slaughter houses and meat shops shut for a few days during Paryushan.“Meanwhile, Naypadmasagarji told Mirror yesterday he was “certain“ that most of the 30,000 Jain voters in Mira-Bhayandar had cast their ballot in favour of the BJP. He also said that he was “100% sure“ that the eight-day shutdown of meat shops in Mira-Bhayandar will come into effect if BJP retains the corporation.He said Prime Minister's “vegetarian way of life“ impressed him, hence he decided to support the party. “I'm not against any political party or religion. Look at PM Modi... he remains a steadfast vegetarian even when he travels abroad. CM Fadnavis met me a few days ago and promised that he will respect our demands.The talk between Fadnavis and me were very positive and that's the reason I have appealed my followers to vote for BJP,“ the monk said.When asked why he was so vehemently opposed to those eating meat, he said, “Slaughtering animals has brought new diseases into the country. Bird flu, swine flu, all this is because of animal slaughtering. And I'm not saying this, experts have concluded after a thorough research. If earth has to survive, mass killing of animals has to stop.“