After Jain monks went on a hunger strike to push for a citywide ban on animal slaughter, the local government declared Palitana a meat-free zone. But the city’s Muslims are not happy. Jainism is one of the oldest religions in the world and preaches a path of non-violence towards all living beings. In India, about 5 million people practice it.
“Everyone in this world — whether animal or human being or a very small creature — has all been given the right to live by God,” says Virat Sagar Maharaj, a Jain monk. “So who are we to take away that right from them? This has been written in the holy books of every religion, particularly in Jainism.”
The mountainous town of Palitana in the state of Gujarat is home to one of Jain’s holiest sites, and many residents don’t want any kind of killing happening here. Recently, 200 Jain monks began a hunger strike, threatening to fast until death until the town was declared an entirely vegetarian zone.
“Meat has always been easily available in this city, but it’s against the teaching of our religion,” says Sadhar Sagar, a Jain believer. “We always wanted a complete ban on non-vegetarian food in this holy site.”
They have gotten their wish. On Aug. 14, the Gujarat government declared Palitana a “meat-free zone.” They instituted a complete ban on the sale of meat and eggs and have also outlawed the slaughter of animals within the town’s limits.
It’s a victory for vegetarians, but bad for business for others. Fishermen such as Nishit Mehru have had to stop working entirely. “We have been stopped from selling anything in Palitana,” he says. “They shouldn’t have taken this one-sided decision. How will we survive if we are not allowed to sell fish? The government should not make decisions under pressure.”
On behalf of other fishermen, Valjibhai Mithapura took the issue to the state’s high court, which has called on the state government to explain the ban put in place locally. It will then make a decision about whether this regulation is legal. Gujarat is ruled by the Hindu nationalist BJP party, whose leader is Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The population of Palitana is 65,000 and about 25% of them are Muslim. Local Muslim religious scholar Syed Jehangir Miyan disagrees with the ban. “There are so many people living in this city, and the majority of them are non-vegetarian,” he says. “Stopping them from eating a non-vegetarian diet is a violation of their rights. We have been living in this city for decades. It is wrong to suddenly put a ban on the whole city now.”
Vegetarian food is healthier, and therefore, if practiced, it will be beneficial for the whole society irrespective of anything else. Those that deal in non-veg materials could switch to other business and earn from them.In this regard, others can come forward to help them rehabilitate.
I agree, all creatures have the right to live. We have no right to kill and eat them. We do this just because the animals cannot talk or protest. In fact it shuld be banned in as many places as possible.This should be done by giving 6 months to one year notice.Those traders can start another business. Government should help them.
If the city’s Muslims are unhappy they are can go and live in Pakistan. Something they were supposed to do in 1947.
I wish such a ban be extended through the entire country. India is a country which has spread the message of peace and non-violence in the whole world. The concept of vegetarian foods has been originated from India which demonstrates the sensitivity of our ancestors towards the life of animals. Slaughtering the helpless and crying animals is one of the most cruel and barbaric practice which imprints the deep psyclogical impact making the human mind emotionless and violent. Many non-vegetarian people in Europe and USA left eating meat permanently when then witness the barbaric slaughtering of animals. Now there are many organizations in the developed countries which are working for the welfare of animals. I would ask the people who slaugter animals on the name of religion: Who created these animals? Definitely, the same GOD who created you! So, how GOD can be HAPPY by killing of its own creature? It is really unfortunate that why these people don’t use their mind, one of the most wonderful gift from GOD, to understand this very simple fact.
Great Idea whose time has come
In India , our citizens , culture, traditions and political systems have to keep on appeasing several sections of people. Hence we are not free to have or dictate certain systems of life those have been in India past several centuries. This is very sad part of our country.
This should have been rooted out when there was a prime time to do so.
I think it is a good idea. I hope there will be more areas, if not complete towns practicing veganism. Just like ‘ No smoking areas”.
Vegetarianism is a healthy way of life – it should not be linked to any religion and opposed.
Very good. I am wondering why other places like Mathura, Vrindavan and similar places are not doing the same.
India is for vedic principle first. Pakistan was given to the killer of animals why are all of those not moving to Pakistan ? Why are muslim a problem everywhere ???
The fisherman can be helped as someone else did write above, to start a new income opportunity. The slaghterhouse people MUST be banned in India , from India, FOR INDIA and her future.
It’s good that Palitana city has been declared as TOTAL VEG city , after strong solidarity and opposition by JAIN monks. My salutations to all those MONKS.
It is claimed as this is the FIRST CITY in India to be total Veg.
For kind information, SRI DHARMASTHALA, SRI . TIRUMALA are also totally vegetarian and also non alcohol city past several decades .
Very very very good and sane decision. This should be extended to whole state and then to whole nation. Unhappy people can find their own country !
The decision is incomplete.
They should ban use of leather items also.
Using leather or eating meat, both means death to animals, hence have no difference.
Any item which is manufactured by causing pain or death to animals should be banned.
I am living without leather for a long time and had no trouble at all.
Alternate items of leather are available in market.
We Hindus have always been accommodating to other faiths. Time for them to show they can be tolerant.
The challenge in India is some jokers in the name of secularism will join them to attack Hindus. But hindus are persecuted in Pakistan and Bangladesh , no Muslim is coming to their aid, either they fear they would be harmed or joining the attack in-directly .
Tolerance is two traffic , so Muslims and Christians have to learn to co-exist. If they are unhappy , they have the freedom to migrate. We never forced them to be vegetarian.
Haridwar is also a Vegetarian town/ city & no alcohol is permitted.
What happened to court case?
good decision, and worth welcoming! am sure a lot of secularists, liberals, lefties and beef-ban protesters would be writhing in pain due to this!
this is a town of importance, a pilgrimage, and when pilgrimages like Mecca have prohibitions like on entry of non-muslims, can’t another one like this have regulations of its own, to preserve its piety & sanctity?! plus, this is towards the good of mute creatures, and a worthy step towards non-violence. however, the govt. should provide the fishermen and butchers there with alternative avenues of livelihood. and for those who wish to eat non-veg food, may have it outside the zone’s limits occasionally.
This is good Idea and very good step also, but goverment should take strong decision regarding this matter. I am from Odisha, Here nobody putting their mind to create vegetarian Zone. Though , the world famous Jagannath Temple is situated here.
Human Minorities talk about their Rights. In that case, what about the Right of Animals. Even Animals are minorities. If Human Minorities can ride roughshod over the Rights of Animal Minorities then the Human Majority can also ride rough shod over the Rights of Human Minorities. But this should not be so because Brute force is never permitted in a civilised society. By the same coin, even the Rights of Animal Minorities have to be respected by the Human Minorities. It cannot be one way alone. Ultimately all living species have to be respected.Eating meat is not essential to maintain/nourish the human body.
The best is to create new villages – 100 % veg,with cow protection till death: in india,this can easily be done,within cooperatives or wealthy people could undertake the construction and all planning,and guaranteed there will be full protection from all catastrophes,and guarantee of total prosperity and health,as there will be no need of buying expensive chemicals for agriculture,and so the food will be totally pure. Its best to have pure breed of indian cows that give A2 milk,as western cows give A1 milk,that causes diseases…With such projects,lot jobs will be created,and pollution will be nil. Export of products is guaranteed….[varnasrama.org]Hare Krsna!
Wild animals like Lion, Tiger, cheeta etc cannot eat grass. Hence their killing of other animals for survival is justified. When man can survive on vegetarian good, why should he go for non vegetarian food. Man’s body is not fit to eat meat. He has cultivated this habit. It is high time that the court which hears human rights cases also should look into animal rights. This is because no animal can hire a counsel to present its case in Court. Only to please one section of minority most of the Government is hesitating to touch ban on slaughter of cows. Let us all join and create awareness of going veg.
Lord Mahavir stood for love and compassion to all living beings, hence it is fitness of things that a city dedicated to him, should observe this principle. Those who are unhappy with this should move out. In fact, India being a spiritual country, killing of animals should be banned except for self defence or those insects harmful to health. Killing involves cruelty and if we cannot give life, we have no right to take it. If we like killing, the terrorists, the murderers, the rapists, the robbers should be killed as they are pests to the society . There are whole lot of them and we should get rid of them.
By reading the article I became very very happy that at least there is one city with ban on non vegetarianism. I request all our country people to support vegetarianism. Because vegetarian diet is easy to digest and help us to live long life. Those who like to live long life and without many aliments please become vegetarian and let us try our level best to canvas to all our friends and fellow men to become vegetarian. by telling benefits of vegetarianism.
People should be educated through a mass campaign on the ill effects of eating meat, smoking, drinking alcohol etc. Everybody should be made to realize that one can live happily without them. Then there would be no protests like these. The education should start from primary school.
it is the best of life, one can really wish for, being a vegetarian…
good god bless us who wants to build a better planet and
struggling to protect our animals. It good to know that at least one city in this world is a meat free zone.Thank you for all who are respecting this secured area. god bless
The great thing which can happen in this world. Definitely what has happened in Palitana, Gujarat is a precursor to it. Let all of us like minded people pray and visualise that, one day, the whole of India, and whole of the world in turn, become vegetarians and there is absolutely no ill treatment and killing of animals.
Guys, You appreciate the first vegetarian city. but what about the drinking habit with people all around India. When will India again become a spritual country, at least few states/cities. There is a Wine shop in every street, corruption everywhere, Temples are all for rich, every problem is here in India. Lets try to solve one by one.
I would like to see at least one city in every country designated meat free.
the article related to vegetarian is an excellent piece of knowledge. The words about vegetarian food said by eminent people like rishis, ramana maharshi, shirdi sai baba, satya sai baba, ramakrishna paramahamsa, abdul kalam, gandhi, nehru, mohd. pravakta, jesus christ, buddha, vemana, etc., may be included so that the readers could follow the sayings of such mahatmas easily and follow vegetarianism.
Thanking you,
great ever. some hypocrite may show their rights like some “Manab Adhikar Commision”…the latest hypocrites now in India ; never was in Bharat.
jay hind jay bharat
Hi, so happz to hear about this marvellous news! I give it on to all mz Southamerican friends and elsewhere who are faithful vegetarians and even vegans for most or all their life!
It is indeed a great step!
Although it is a fact that there are numerous problem to set right, we can at least begin now with banning non-vegetarian food. Sure if it becomes successful the rest of the things would be easier to implement.
The world famous holy temple town of Tirumala in Andhra Pradesh is already a fully Vegetarian town since a long time. Sale of eggs, fish, meat ans alcohol is totally banned in Tirumala. Hence, Palitana cannot be called world’s first vegetarian town.