Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has taken strong objection to Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha’s appeal to the Mumbai civic body seeking relief for the religious practice of pigeon feeding, stating that public health and urban hygiene must not be compromised for emotional reasons, reported news agency PTI.

Lodha, who is also the guardian minister of the Mumbai suburban district, wrote to BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani requesting identification of designated open spaces as temporary zones for supervised pigeon feeding. However, MNS leaders, while responding sharply to this proposal, said rational decision-making must prevail over sentimentality, reported PTI.

Backed by a Bombay High Court order, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Sunday covered the famous Dadar kabutarkhana with tarpaulin sheets to deter public feeding of pigeons, terming it a health hazard. The MNS has welcomed the civic body's proactive action and urged it not to succumb to pressure from any political quarters.