Mumbai: The Jain community on Friday submitted their letter to the BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani asking to open the kabutar khanas in Mumbai and stop actions against the pegion feeders. The letter follows the Bombay High court stance on Thursday that the court has not ordered closure of kabutar khanas and it was BMC's decision.
Bombay High Court clarifies it did not order closure; decision was BMC's
"The court said if pigeon feeders want, they can seek permission from the BMC. It is BMC who shut down pigeon feeding. It has no option but to reopen it. Our letter has reached the BMC," said Advocate Kamlesh Shah, member of All India Animal Welfare Board.
"Today (Friday) is a holiday. The BMC took our letter for permission and we expect on Monday they will allow once their legal department will give clearance or state will give some instructions in lieu of the HC order," Shah added.
BMC awaits legal clearance before deciding on reopening kabutar khanas
On Thursday, speaking with the FPJ, BMC Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said that he will decide next step after reading the full HC order in detail.
Political pressure mounts ahead of BMC elections, with threat of NOTA votes
Meanwhile, the political pressure from the Jain and Gujarati community is rising to reopen the kabutar khanas ahead of the BMC elections. "The community is a strong vote bank for the BJP across the country. We will ensure all vote against BJP in the upcoming civic elections," a BJP MLA said.
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Speaking with the FPJ on Tuesday, Sneha Visaria, one of the petitioner in HC said that the Jain community will press None of the Above (NOTA) in the upcoming BMC elections if pigeon feeding is not allowed.
The community has been claiming that thousands of pigeons have died out of starvation and thirst since the kabutar khanas are closed.
