Mumbai, Sep 9 (Mumbai Mirror): The Shiv Sena on Tuesday countered ally BJP by opposing the BMC's decision to ban sale of meat in the city during the Jain festival of Paryushan.

During a debate in the BMC, the Sena backed Samajwadi Party leader Rais Shaikh's demand that the ban — announced for September 10, 13, 17 and 18 — be withdrawn. Mayor and Sena leader Snehal Ambekar made a formal request for the same.

Except the BJP, all parties supported Shaikh's demand. "The BMC has no right to regulate food habits of citizens," said Sandeep Deshpande, the MNS group leader in the civic body. Congress corporator Devendra Amberkar, the leader of opposition in the BMC, said such bans only created a divide between communities.

A BJP delegation led by party MLAs Atul Bhatkhalkar and Raj Purohit met municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta last week and demanded a ban on slaughter of animals and sale of their meat for eight days on account of the Jain festival.

On Monday, the BMC issued a circular announcing a four-day ban. On Tuesday, an isolated BJP defended the ban. "The practice of shutting down slaughter houses and meat shops [during certain festivals] has been followed for years. It's not that the BJP has put forward some new proposal," said Manoj Kotak, the BJP group leader in the BMC.

Asaduddin Owaisi, president of All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen, termed the ban ridiculous. "Will the BMC ban vegetables and serve only meat during Bakra Eid?" he asked. Owaisi said after beef, the state government was trying to ban other meat. "It's not that only one particular community eats meat. People of many communities consume it. Also, it's an economic issue. Livelihood of thousands of people depends on sale of meat," he said.