Mumbai — The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), through its party mouthpiece Saamana, on Monday strongly condemned the “violent” and “fanatical” language allegedly used by some Jain priests amid the ongoing controversy over pigeon feeding in Mumbai.
The editorial asserted that Mumbai belongs to Maharashtra and that any decision regarding the city’s future — including the fate of pigeon houses — should be taken in consultation with Marathi people, who, it said, had sacrificed greatly for the formation of the state.
“Maharashtra was created through the blood and sacrifice of Marathi people, and Mumbai is its capital. Therefore, whether pigeon houses should remain in Mumbai or not must be decided by Marathi citizens,” the editorial declared. It questioned why certain Jain religious leaders continued to agitate over pigeon houses despite court orders and expert opinions warning that they pose serious health hazards.
In a pointed attack, the Sena (UBT) remarked that “a society that turns violent in the name of religion for pigeons can only exist in the Modi era.” The editorial went on to mock the Maharashtra government, suggesting that it should “announce pigeon houses in the grounds of Jain builder complexes and the newly built Jain gymkhana at Marine Lines,” adding sarcastically that “there is no issue fulfilling this peaceful demand — the Jains only want space for pigeons, not reservations.”
Expressing sharp disapproval of the provocative statements reportedly made by Jain priests during a recent religious gathering, Saamana likened their rhetoric to that of extremist figures such as Shahabuddin and Owaisi. “When innocent people were killed in Pahalgam and Pulwama, no religious assemblies were held for their peace. Yet, for pigeons, there is a religious meet. Such hypocrisy is condemnable,” the editorial stated.
The piece criticized statements by some Jain leaders and younger community members suggesting that “even if one or two people die for pigeons, it doesn’t matter.” It asked why state authorities remained silent even after such remarks were made.
Saamana further claimed that the recent aggressive reactions from sections of the Jain community — following the demolition of an unauthorised temple in Vile Parle and the closure of a pigeon house in Dadar as per a High Court order — were inconsistent with the principles of peace and non-violence.
“It may be true that the Jain community pays the highest taxes, but they also earn the most in Mumbai. Denying a Marathi person a home in Jain housing societies cannot be called non-violence — it is a form of violence,” the editorial said.
The paper also urged Jain leaders to extend their compassion beyond pigeons, pointing out that deforestation for urban projects like the Mumbai Metro in Aarey and large-scale mining in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh have destroyed habitats and killed countless birds and animals.
“When over 2,000 trees were cut overnight in Aarey, birds and chicks died as their nests fell. Pigeons too perished. Yet, no Jain leaders organised prayer meetings for them. Now, 400 acres of forest are being cleared in Hyderabad, and mining in Maharashtra and central India is killing birds, animals, and tribals. Where is the compassion for them?” it questioned.
Concluding its critique, Saamana said the Jain community must introspect from a humanitarian and ecological perspective, rather than confining its empathy to pigeons alone.
With inputs from IANS