Jain Muni (monk) Nileshchandra accused State Skill Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha of suppressing the voice of the Jain community in Mumbai over the Dadar Kabutarkhana controversy and warned of a protest if the pigeon-feeding enclosure is not opened in Dadar.

“He is suppressing the voice of the Jain community. I spoke to State Assembly Speaker Rahul Narvekar and told him if the issue is not resolved, I will stage protest outside the Godiji Parshvanath Jain temple in Mumbai’s Paydhuni,” said Muni Nileshchandra. 

With his remarks, once again the Kabutarkhana controversy is swelling in Mumbai. It has been demanding the publication of any existing government or municipal policy banning pigeon or bird feeding or immediate clarification that feeding is not prohibited; a regular sanitation programme at feeding areas by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC); immediate medical and veterinary attention for injured or dehydrated stray animals and birds; protection of cows and all milch and farm animals; and declaration of all ancient temples and sanctuaries as Heritage Sites.

Earlier, the Bombay High Court ordered that pigeon feeding could only be done at four spots suggested by the BMC, including Worli Reservoir, the mangrove area on Lokhandwala Back Road in Andheri West, the Airoli-Mulund check post area and Gorai ground in Borivali West. The timings will be between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. 

The Jain monk disapproved of alternate sites, as these are as far as 4, 5 and even 9 kilometres away, and alleged that the “builders and a few greedy politicians are lobbying for political gains”. 

Muni Nileshchandra pointed out why everyone is doing politics on speechless pigeons, saying, “All I want is justice for these innocent animals”. He warned of an indefinite strike if “Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis doesn’t respond to the letter that I am going to write to him in next 15 days”.

Kabutarkhana controversy reached the Bombay High Court after the issue of human deaths due to exposure to pigeon droppings surfaced in July. Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande first raised the issue in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on July 3.