New party aims to contest BMC elections focused on protecting pigeon feeding spots in the city.
Religious leaders from the Jain community have announced the establishment of a new political party named the Shanti Doot Jankalyan Party, which will feature a pigeon as its symbol. This initiative comes ahead of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections scheduled for later this year. The leaders stated that the party’s primary agenda will be to safeguard kabootarkhanas, or pigeon feeding spots, across Mumbai.
The announcement was made during a prayer meeting dedicated to pigeons, where the leaders expressed concern over the number of birds that have died since the BMC began shutting down designated feeding areas. This decision followed an order from the Maharashtra government issued on July 3, directing the civic body to close these spots.
On July 30, the Bombay High Court intervened in the matter, responding to petitions from animal welfare activists. The court ruled that feeding pigeons at kabootarkhanas was becoming a public health concern, especially for children and the elderly. A bench consisting of Justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor permitted the municipal corporation to take legal action under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning public nuisance and acts that could potentially spread infectious diseases.
This judicial order sparked protests throughout the city. On August 6, a significant confrontation occurred between protesters and police at the Dadar kabootarkhana, where demonstrators tore down tarpaulin sheets that the authorities had installed to prevent the feeding of pigeons. Just days prior, over 1,000 members of the Jain community had gathered to protest the closure of this feeding spot, which marked the end of a long-standing tradition.
The recent prayer meeting, where the new political party was announced, also saw participation from Hindu leaders, Hare Krishna monks, and Buddhists, indicating a broader coalition concerned with the issue. When asked about the formation of the Shanti Doot Jankalyan Party, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis mentioned he was not aware of this development.
In the wake of the BMC’s crackdown on illegal pigeon feeding, the civic body has imposed fines on individuals violating the ban. Between July 13 and August 3, 142 people were fined, resulting in a total of Rs 68,700 collected in penalties. Notably, the highest number of fines—61, which accounted for nearly 43% of the total—was issued at the Dadar kabootarkhana.
The controversy surrounding the ban on pigeon feeding has led to a division among residents, highlighting differing perspectives on public health and animal rights in Mumbai. The launch of the Shanti Doot Jankalyan Party signifies a political response to these community tensions as the BMC elections approach.
