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Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Vijay stated he had determined to attend for a gathering with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “We expect a gathering in three days. We don’t imagine in merely dropping a letter. We desire a clear, face-to-face communication with him to current all our grievances about feeding the harmless pigeons who’ve been depending on grains and water on the kabutarkhana for years,” he stated.
The non secular chief, nevertheless, made it clear that the pause was momentary. “Yes, I had introduced that I might sit on an indefinite starvation strike from August 13 towards the ban. After dialogue, we determined to attend for 3 extra days. If there isn’t a optimistic response from the assembly, we’ll take a name accordingly. I can’t cease,” he asserted.
Mr. Vijay has additionally issued a warning to the State authorities that if the ban isn’t lifted inside per week, he’ll resume the protest together with one lakh members of the Jain neighborhood from Mumbai. “The authorities should concern that the BMC election is arising. If they might proceed their unconstitutional harassment in the direction of harmless pigeons, none of us from the Jain neighborhood will vote. We will boycott the upcoming civic elections in protest,” he added.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to intervene within the petition difficult a Bombay High Court order directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to register legal instances towards people feeding pigeons in Kabutarkhanas within the metropolis. The apex courtroom noticed that the proceedings are pending earlier than the High Court and the benefit of the case is into consideration. In such a scenario, parallel indulgence by this courtroom isn’t correct.
The Bombay High Court order was based mostly on concern for public well being. The courtroom had reasoned that the general public feeding of pigeons was a grave and potential well being hazard to folks of all ages at giant. The courtroom had beforehand restrained the BMC from demolishing any of the previous heritage kabutarkhanas within the metropolis, however refused to permit feeding of the birds.
In the meantime, neighborhood members have devised alternative routes to proceed the observe with out violating the ban. These embrace putting in racks on rooftops of their automobiles to function feeding stations for the pigeons. “Our automobiles are simply driving across the Kabutarkhana and feeding the pigeons. There is not any ban on feeding pigeons over our automotive roof, so nobody ought to have an issue with that,” stated Jain chief Bhagyachandra Muni.
The Jains have additionally expressed alarm over what they describe as a mass die-off of pigeons because the feeding restrictions started. Mr. Vijay claimed that round 10,000 pigeons have died prior to now 15 days. “We have all of the proof. With no water and meals, they may die anyway,” he stated, including that the neighborhood intends to current this proof to the Chief Minister and later within the courtroom.
Published – August 13, 2025 01:58 am IST
