Greetings from Ban-istan: Twitter reacts to the meat ban in Mumbai

Mumbai is known to be a cosmopolitan city with different communities living together. However, judging by the recent decision of the city’s civic body, it seems that a touch of communal discrimination persists even in this day and age.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has banned meat in Mumbai for four days during the Jain fasting season of Paryushan giving in to demands made by BJP legislators and Jain organisations.

This ban comes days after the BJP-ruled Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation banned meat sale for eight days during the fasting season and months after the ban on cow slaughter and subsequently on beef products.

While this is only on from 11 to 18 September, it has still been severely criticised in many circles for its religious motivation. And as expected, this newest ban hasn’t gone down too well with the Indian Twitterati either.

After the decision was announced on Monday evening, #meatban was trending on Twitter all the country and on Tuesday morning became the top trend in India.

Here is how people on Twitter are reacting to the meat ban in Mumbai:

Guys we didn't work our ways to the top of the food chain just so you can eat grass again

— miarukherjee (@tweetria) September 7, 2015

If due to one community's belief others should leave meat, will due to other's beliefs veggies eat meat? #meatban

— Raghav Chopra (@RaghavChopra_) September 7, 2015

So this year in Bandra Fair be content with eating Chana, No Non-veg at the food stalls and East Indian stuff #meatban

— Satish 🇮🇳 (@bombaylives) September 8, 2015

Ban beef. Ban meat. Ban criticising politicians. Ban consenting adults from meeting. Welcome to #Mumbai, capital of Ban-istan #meatban

— Sneha Mahale (@randomcards) September 8, 2015

I am a #Jain I don't eat meat. I DON'T support #meatban

— Saurabh Shah (@shahsa2003) September 8, 2015

#meatban Does it mean that the feelings of Jain community will not be hurt on other days of the year, or in other regions of the nation!

— Vinay Prasad (@VPra52) September 7, 2015

Eat, Pray, Love.............the way the government wants you to https://t.co/BvBnZBWaG6

— Avinash Iyer (@IyerAvin) September 7, 2015

Maximum city. Minimum non-veg. They tell you whom to have sex with, what to eat. All that's left, whom to pray to. Way to go @Dev_Fadnavis.

— Brown Sahiba (@Rajyasree) September 7, 2015

Just because Non-Vegetarians are tolerant doesnt mean Vegetarians should take advantage of our Tolerance

— Joy (@Joydas) September 7, 2015

#MeatBan; it's fishy!

— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) September 8, 2015