Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday slammed the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) for ordering all slaughterhouses and meat shops to remain closed on August 15 in view of the Independence Day celebration, saying the commissioner should be suspended.
Thackeray said what people eat on Independence Day is their right and their freedom. “They cannot tell us whether to eat veg or non-veg. We will definitely eat non-veg. We eat it in our house,” he added.
#WATCH | Mumbai: On Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation reportedly ordered the closure of all slaughterhouses and meat shops on August 15, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray says, "In our house, even on Navratri, our prasad has prawns, fish, because this is our tradition,… pic.twitter.com/ivxVhjHw2i
— ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2025
Uddhav Thackeray's son said that in their house, the prasad has prawns and fish even on Navratri. “Because this is our tradition, this is our Hinduism... This is not a matter of religion, and it is not a matter of national interest..." he added.
A notice signed by Kanchan Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner, Licensing, said all licensed butchers dealing in goats, sheep, chicken, and large animals should follow the directive. Gaikwad told PTI that the order is nothing new and has been issued every year since 1988.
The civic body notice warned that violators will face action under Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949 sections 334, 336 and 394(A).
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It should be noted that the civic body, KDMC, is under state government's administrative rule and the commissioner is the representative of the Devendra Fadnavis-led NDA government.
Earlier, Adithya Thackeray slammed the administration to fix the bridges that are collapsing instread of banning food. "Who is the commissioner to tell us what to eat and what not to? Bridges are collapsing, roads are in terrible shape, and instead of fixing them, the administration is busy banning food," he said.
NCP(SP) leader Jitendra Awhad called the KDMC move "food policing", adding that the government was trying to fuel a divide between vegetarians and non-vegetarians. He then went on to say he is planning to host a mutton party to defy the order.
“On the day we got freedom, you are taking away our freedom to eat what we want,” Awhad later told news agency PTI.
