Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay has temporarily put on hold his indefinite hunger strike, which was scheduled to begin on August 13, following initial talks with the Maharashtra Chief Minister’s office regarding the recent ban on feeding pigeons at Dadar’s kabutarkhana (pigeon feeding spot).
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Vijay said he had decided to wait for a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “We are expecting a meeting in three days. We do not believe in merely dropping a letter. We want a clear, face-to-face communication with him to present all our grievances about feeding the innocent pigeons who have been dependent on grains and water at the kabutarkhana for years,” he said.
The religious leader, however, made it clear that the pause was temporary. “Yes, I had announced that I would sit on an indefinite hunger strike from August 13 against the ban. After discussion, we decided to wait for three more days. If there is no positive response from the meeting, we will take a call accordingly. I will not stop,” he asserted.
Mr. Vijay has also issued a warning to the State government that if the ban is not lifted within a week, he will resume the protest along with one lakh members of the Jain community from Mumbai. “The government must fear that the BMC election is coming up. If they would continue their unconstitutional harassment towards innocent pigeons, none of us from the Jain community will vote. We will boycott the upcoming civic elections in protest,” he added.
The Supreme Court on Monday refused to intervene in the petition challenging a Bombay High Court order directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to register criminal cases against individuals feeding pigeons in Kabutarkhanas in the city. The apex court observed that the proceedings are pending before the High Court and the merit of the case is under consideration. In such a situation, parallel indulgence by this court is not proper.
The Bombay High Court order was based on concern for public health. The court had reasoned that the public feeding of pigeons was a grave and potential health hazard to people of all ages at large. The court had previously restrained the BMC from demolishing any of the old heritage kabutarkhanas in the metropolis, but refused to allow feeding of the birds.
In the meantime, community members have devised alternative ways to continue the practice without violating the ban. These include installing racks on rooftops of their cars to serve as feeding stations for the pigeons. “Our cars are just driving around the Kabutarkhana and feeding the pigeons. There is no ban on feeding pigeons over our car roof, so no one should have a problem with that,” said Jain leader Bhagyachandra Muni.
The Jains have also expressed alarm over what they describe as a mass die-off of pigeons since the feeding restrictions began. Mr. Vijay claimed that around 10,000 pigeons have died in the past 15 days. “We have all the proof. With no water and food, they will die anyway,” he said, adding that the community intends to present this evidence to the Chief Minister and later in the court.
Published – August 13, 2025 01:58 am IST
