Shiv Sena firmly criticizes Jain community to insist on banning meat in the course of Paryushan. As per editorial published on Thursday in Saamna, mouthpiece of Shiv Sena, “Jains must not follow the path of Muslims and become fanatics. At least Muslims have Pakistan to go to. Where will the Jains go?”
What is more, editorial warned community, saying that it would “bite the dust” for persisting with these actions. Paryushan is a festival of 8 days throughout which Jains pray and observe fast.
Maharashtra officials banned meat for 4 days when VTAS (Vishwamaitra Trust Ahinsa Sangh) demanded and Mira-Bhayander municipal corporation put a ban of meat selling in that region.
However, Saamna depicted that emphasizing of non-violence by Jains is hypocritical and recalls riots of 1992-1993.
As per editorial, “The Sena protected Jains and their businesses from mobs. Hordes of Jains queued up outside Matoshree, wanting to thank Balasaheb for this. Why didn’t they remember this doctrine of non-violence then?”
It further asked, “If a terrorist like (Lashkar-e-Taiba member Ajmal) Kasab was to enter Mumbai during this period, would a Jain protect him from being killed and instead offer up his own life?”
It continued saying violence isn’t restricted to animal killing and questioned, “A large number of the city’s builders are Jains and have no qualms accepting black money from flat buyers. Accepting black money is a sin and also a form of violence. Do they stop accepting black money during Paryushan?”