Rising Tensions in Dadar: Kabutarkhana Dispute Erupts into Jain–Marathi Manus Face-off

by Webdesk
13 Aug 2025

MUMBAI: The ongoing Dadar Kabutarkhana controversy took a sharper turn on Wednesday, acquiring a communal edge, after hundreds of members from the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti were detained while agitating against the Jain community’s plea to allow pigeon feeding at the site.

The Samiti’s outrage was reportedly triggered by comments from Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay, who had earlier warned of launching an indefinite hunger strike and even hinted at “picking up arms” if it became necessary to defend his faith.

Although police had denied the Samiti permission to hold a protest the previous day, the morning saw a massive security presence in the area. Barricades were set up, several police teams were deployed, and officers were positioned near the adjoining Jain temple to maintain order. Many shops in the vicinity stayed closed.

Protesters clashed verbally with the police, demanding to know why no action was initiated against Jain community members who, just last week, had allegedly torn down the civic barricade around the Kabutarkhana—some reportedly using knives and scissors.

“This is not merely a religious matter but an issue that concerns our entire community,” one protester said. “If someone talks about picking up weapons, they should clarify who these weapons would be used against. We are descendants of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and we too are capable of taking up arms if needed. The Marathi manus will not stand for this.” The crowd repeatedly chanted slogans of “Marathi mansacha vijay aso.”

Govardhan Deshmukh, a Samiti representative, accused the state home minister of favouring “a particular community” while ignoring local grievances. “We came here only to speak to the media and submit a memorandum to the police regarding the threats made about taking up arms if pigeon feeding was stopped. We did not come to provoke unrest,” Deshmukh insisted.

The incident occurred exactly one week after the Jain community held their own demonstration at the same location to oppose the BMC’s ban on feeding pigeons—a protest that ended with participants dismantling the civic barricade around the Kabutarkhana. However, late on Sunday night, the BMC reinstated the cover.

The Kabutarkhana at Dadar has long served as a traditional feeding spot for pigeons but has recently been the focus of civic action due to health and sanitation concerns. Authorities have argued that large-scale pigeon feeding contributes to respiratory ailments and unclean conditions.

Reacting to the latest tensions, Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay clarified that neither he nor his community intended to use physical weapons. He explained that his earlier statement about taking up “shastra” referred to undertaking a hunger strike in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi’s satyagraha. “Even if we are attacked, we will endure it peacefully. If anyone thinks we are insulting the Marathi manus, I want to make it clear—we will never pick up arms. Ahimsa is our principle,” the monk said.

He further emphasised that while Rajasthan is the Jain community’s janmabhoomi (birthplace), Maharashtra is their karmabhoomi (land of action), and they deeply revere both Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. “We are a peace-loving business community. If court rulings go against us, we will protest—but always peacefully. We did not use weapons to cut the Kabutarkhana cover. It was removed using a sharp tool meant for cutting pipes. Even when our temple at Vile Parle was demolished, 40,000 of us gathered and protested without any weapons,” he recalled.

In a conciliatory gesture, the monk described MNS chief Raj Thackeray as “the god of the Marathi language” and appealed to him to step in and resolve the escalating dispute.

The episode has now deepened tensions between the two communities, with both sides invoking historical pride and legal rights while calling on political leaders to take a stand. The matter continues to be a flashpoint in Dadar, underscoring how a decades-old tradition of pigeon feeding has transformed into a contentious political and communal issue in the heart of Mumbai.

Image Courtesy:

02 Jan 2026

BMC Elections

Rising Tensions in Dadar: Kabutarkhana Dispute Erupts into Jain–Marathi Manus Face-off

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