India, Nov. 3 -- Jain monk Nileshchandra Vijay on Monday began a protest at Mumbai's Azad Maidan, opposing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) decision to shut down the Dadar Kabutarkhana - a site where the Jain community has traditionally fed pigeons for decades.

Before starting his indefinite fast near the BMC headquarters, the monk told reporters that his demand was simple - the restoration of the historic Kabutarkhana, which holds deep religious and cultural significance for the community.

The protest comes in response to the civic body's recent move to allow controlled pigeon feeding only at four alternate locations - Worli Reservoir, Lokhandwala Back Road mangroves in Andheri West, the Airoli-Mulund check post area, and...