Mumbai (Maharashtra), September 21, 2011: NCP corporator in the Mira Bhayander Municipal Corporation, Vandana Chakre’s comment on the Jain community at the corporation’s general body meeting has triggered a huge controversy.
Responding to former mayor Narendra Mehta’s demand that all mutton shops in the MBMC area be shut for eight days during the Paryushan period, Chakre allegedly said if the Jain community does not want mutton shops to be opened during that period then they should leave the twin township of Mira Bhyander.
Mehta has condemned Chakre’s remark while the latter has denied making any such comment.
The corporation’s general body meeting was held on Tuesday where Mehta raised the issue of closing mutton shops during Paryushan.
He pointed out that as per the state government’s order, all mutton shops should be closed for three days of Paryushan and further demanded that this closure period be extended to eight days.
Another NCP corporator, Bhagwati Sharma, had raised the same issue in the last general body where it was decided that the matter would be discussed in Tuesday’s meeting.
During the discussion, Chakre allegedly made the controversial remark which raised many eyebrows. Mehta took serious note of her remark and condemned it. He also demanded an immediate public apology from Chakre.
However, Chakre refused to do so by saying that she had not used those words and that her opponents were trying to create a controversy by “putting wrong words in my mouth”.
Congress leader Surendra Savai, who had withdrawn from the race for a party ticket to support fellow Jain Mangal Prabhat Lodha of the BJP, reacted angrily to Chakre’s comment.
Savai, who is a trustee of the Godiji Jain Temple at Pydhonie — the city’s biggest and the oldest —said: “There are so many Jains that, their (the person who said this) pagdi will be removed. Every religion needs to be respected… Even though she (Chakre) is a corporator, she can go any day. They are elected people, so should keep everyone’s interest in mind.” – News Courtesy: DNA India