Mumbai's Pigeon Politics: Battle for Power Between CM and Shinde
Mumbai, India - The city is currently embroiled in a contentious issue surrounding the ban on feeding pigeons at public and heritage sites, a move initiated by the Bombay High Court to address serious public health hazards and damage to heritage structures[1][2][3].
This decision has sparked widespread protests, particularly among Mumbai’s influential Gujarati and Jain communities, who view feeding pigeons as a longstanding religious and auspicious practice[1][2][5]. The ban is perceived as interfering with their faith, leading to confrontations with civic authorities enforcing the ban[1][2][5].
Politically, the issue has escalated with reports of the first criminal case filed against pigeon feeders in Mumbai. Maharashtra ministers and BJP leaders like Mangal Prabhat Lodha have questioned the ban, expressing concerns over pigeons dying from starvation and potential new public health risks due to the ban[1][4]. Civic authorities have enforced the closure of kabutarkhanas, sometimes met with protests and even minor clashes[5].
The controversy represents a clash between public health measures and religious sentiments, with political actors navigating this complex socio-cultural terrain as the ban impacts both the city’s ecology and its faith-based traditions[2][3][4].
Elsewhere, the term "kabootar" in Delhi refers to political leaders who are perceived as weak, unreliable, and untrustworthy[6]. Meanwhile, the population of pigeons in Mumbai has increased by over 150% since 2000, according to a 2023 report[7]. In response, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of Mumbai has ordered the BMC to ensure "controlled feeding" of pigeons in the city, aligning himself with the affluent and influential Jain community[8].
In other news, Mohammed Siraj, the Hyderabadi Hurricane, received a rapturous welcome after his spectacular performance in England. Siraj attributed his success to divine intervention, stating that he believes God wrote something good for him, which led to his successful performance and taking the last wicket[9].
Saina Nehwal and Parupalli Kashyap, Indian badminton stars, have announced a reconciliation after their earlier announcement of a separation[10]. In the corporate world, the term "kabootar" is used to refer to someone who is a soft target for scams and can be easily taken advantage of[6].
The issue of public health and religious sentiments in Mumbai continues to be a topic of heated debate, reflecting tensions between cultural practices and urban health/environmental policies in the city[1][2][4].
References: 1. The Hindu 2. India Today 3. Scroll.in 4. The Times of India 5. Mumbai Mirror 6. The Indian Express 7. Mumbai Mirror 8. The Hindu 9. ESPN Cricinfo 10. India Today
- In the midst of the heated debate in Mumbai, science and health-and-wellness concerns collide with general-news issues as the city confronts the controversy over the ban on feeding pigeons, causing tension between religious sentiments and public health measures.
- Meanwhile, in politics, the escalating issue of the pigeon ban in Mumbai has had national ramifications, as Maharashtra ministers and BJP leaders advocate for the rights of pigeon feeders, questioning the ban and raising concerns of potential new public health risks.
