In Maharashtra, at least four municipal bodies, along with one in Hyderabad, have mandated the closure of meat shops on August 15, coinciding with Independence Day. The directive from the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has sparked political controversy. Leaders from opposition parties, including the NCP (Samajwadi Party) and Shiv Sena (UBT), have criticized the move as an infringement on people's dietary choices.

Aditya Thackeray, a legislator from Shiv Sena (UBT), expressed his discontent, stating that even during Navratri, shrimp and fish are part of their offerings, reflecting their tradition and Hindu identity. He emphasized that this issue is not about religion or national interest, asserting that the KDMC commissioner should be suspended. Thackeray declared that deciding what to eat on Independence Day is a matter of personal freedom, insisting that they will continue to consume meat as per their family customs.

NCP leader Jitendra Awhad reportedly announced that he and others would eat non-vegetarian food on August 15 in protest against the ban. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar remarked that if the ban were imposed during a significant religious occasion, it might be understandable. However, he questioned the necessity of closing meat shops without any such occasion. KDMC's Deputy Commissioner (Licensing), Kanchan Gaikwad, noted that this order has been in effect annually since 1988.

According to reports from a Media House, the KDMC's directive stipulates that all licensed slaughterhouses and shops for goats, sheep, chickens, and large animals must remain closed for 24 hours, from midnight on August 14 to midnight on August 15. It was also mentioned that violations of this order would invoke the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act of 1949.