Independence Day Protest In Kalyan Over KDMC Meat Ban; 25 Detained

Leaders and workers of the Congress party, along with members of the Khatik Samaj and Shiv Sena (UBT), staged a protest near the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) headquarters on Independence Day (August 15). Carrying live chickens, the protesters attempted to deliver them to the KDMC headquarters in opposition to a civic directive imposing strict restrictions on the sale of meat, chicken, and the functioning of slaughterhouses.

Jitendra Awhad Slams Civic Body

Despite heavy police deployment around the KDMC premises, senior NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Jitendra Awhad arrived in Kalyan and strongly criticized the KDMC’s order. He accused the civic body of neglecting essential civic issues such as roads, sewage, and water supply, instead focusing on unnecessary restrictions.

“This KDMC order is completely unjust. The restrictions are officially on butcher houses, but not on chicken sales. Chickens are birds, not animals,” Awhad told the media.

He added that the state government had not issued binding directions but only suggestions. “This is part of a political agenda to create divisions along caste, religious, and linguistic lines. They only do politics—they don’t care about real issues. We follow the ideology of Gandhi,” he said.

Questions on Selective Enforcement

Awhad also questioned why other civic bodies like the Thane Municipal Corporation and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had not issued similar restrictions. "Why only KDMC? The restrictions are only on slaughterhouses, so why are there restrictions on selling chicken?" he asked.

He alleged that police had warned Congress workers by visiting their homes on Independence Day morning, telling them not to step out. “Is this a police state? Are our workers terrorists?” he said, calling the action unjust and authoritarian.

Congress Leaders Demand Revocation

Congress leader Sachin Pote, also present at the protest, told the media that a memorandum had been submitted to KDMC earlier, demanding revocation of the meat and chicken sales ban.

“These restrictions are clearly politically motivated by the BJP. On Independence Day, we have the right to eat what we want. We brought live chickens to the KDMC headquarters to make the KDMC aware,” Pote said.

He further criticized the KDMC for ignoring pressing issues like potholes, roads, hospitals, and railway infrastructure while targeting meat sellers instead.

Detentions and Police Action

Police later detained several Congress leaders and workers, including Pote. He said the KDMC's actions violated people’s right to eat the food of their choice. The protest was called off around 3:20 PM.

DCP Atul Zende of the Kalyan Division confirmed that 25 protesters were detained during the demonstration in front of the KDMC headquarters. They were taken to the police station as a preventive measure and released after two hours.

Maharashtra AIMIM Leader Imtiaz Jaleel Hosts 'Biryani Party' To Protest Meat Shop Ban In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Earlier Khatik Community Protest

Earlier in the morning, members of the Khatik community involved in the meat trade had also demonstrated at the KDMC premises around 9:30 AM, similarly carrying live chickens. The police, deployed in large numbers, detained those protesters as well.

Separately, members of the Hindu Khatik Samaj and Shiv Sena (UBT) were detained from their homes before they could join the protest. Police cited precautionary reasons and maintained tight security around the KDMC building.