After Mumbai, sale of meat and fish banned in Rajasthan for three days during Jain festival of Paryushan

After the uproar over ban on sale of meat in Mumbai, Rajasthan on Thursday announced a ban on sale of meat and fish for three days during Jain festival Paryushan.

An order in this regard was issued by the Rajasthan government to ban sale of meat and fish on September 17, 18 and 27.

This comes even as a ban, imposed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in Mumbai, has already sparked a controversy, with parties like the Shiv Sena and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) taking to the streets to defy the order.

According to the order, the ban would be enforced on four days - September 10, 13, 17 and 18.

The ban covers mutton and chicken, and excludes fish and eggs. It also extends to private businesses selling raw meat. The ban on sale of meat during 'Paryushan' has been in force since 1964.

The BJP, which rules both Maharashtra and Rajasthan, has held that the decision was taken by the civic bodies and the Maharashtra government has no role in it.

The NCP had also voiced reservation over the ban order, with the party along with Congress dubbing it as a BJP ploy to polarise voters with an eye on the elections to the civic body due in early 2017.