India is witnessing food politics. When more than 30% of the population cannot afford one full meal a day, communities are out to ban food items.

Amid the controversy in Mumbai over the meat ban during a Jain festival, the Rajasthan government has imposed restrictions on the sale of meat.

The Rajasthan government issued an order on Wednesday banning the sale of meat during Paryushan, a festival of Shwetambar Jains.

The ban will be in place on September 17 and 18, as per the directive issued by the directorate of local bodies, which ordered slaughter houses as well as meat and fish shops to remain closed on these days.

The ban will also remain in force on September 27 for the festival of Anant Chaturdashi, which is celebrated by Digambar Jains.

Earlier, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), ruled by the BJP, had announced a ban on sale of meat, including mutton and chicken, for four days.

However, the MNS and Shiv Sena, which severely criticised the BMC order, today defied the ban and protested by selling meat at several locations.

The Bombay High Court will hear tomorrow, the plea of the mutton traders who say that the four-day ban on slaughter and sale of meat in Mumbai discriminates against their right to a livelihood.

"An eight-day straight ban can't be a formula. Mumbai is a modern city," the court observed today. The ban has been imposed in view of Paryushan, a Jain festival of forgiveness.

Meat shops are open in Mumbai today, but the city's main government-run abattoir in the city's Deonar is closed. That means that there will be no supply tomorrow, say angry meat shop owners.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir high court has banned the sale of the beef in the state after hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) against cow slaughter.

The division bench justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and justice Janak Raj Kotwal issued the order on Wednesday over the PIL filed by advocate Parimoksh Seth.

The PIL said that slaughtering and sale of bovine animals is rampant in some parts of the state which severely affected religious sentiments of a section of the society. It further stated that the practice continues despite the fact that provisions of Ranbir Penal Code make killing of bovine animals an offence punishable under Section 298-A and possession of such slaughtered animal an act punishable under Section 298-B.

The court also observed the divisional commissioner of Kashmir had not filed an appropriate response about smuggling, slaughtering of bovine animals and their subsequent sale in the Kashmir valley.

It directed the director general police to ensure that appropriate directions are issued to strictly enforce the ban.  "Strict action shall be taken in accordance with law against those who indulge in this activity," the HC observed.