MUMBAI, Oct. 12 -- In a prayer meet early on Saturday for the pigeons that he said had succumbed after the ban on kabutarkhanas in July, Jain muni Nilesh Chandra Vijay-who had previously threatened to take up arms for the cause of pigeon-feeding-announced plans to launch a political party to contest the upcoming BMC elections. To be named 'Shanti Doot Jankalyan Party' and have a pigeon as its symbol, the party's contestants will stand on the pressing issue of protecting animals: pigeons, cows and others. The meeting was attended by religious leaders of Jainism and 'Sanatan dharma' (a term now used by Hindutvavadis for the Hindu religion), Hare Krishna monks and Buddhists.Using strong words, a Sanatan leader claimed that CM Fadnavis had been able to come to power only because of the support of Sanatan leaders. Jain muni Kaivalya Ratna Maharaj criticised minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, saying, "Even if Lodha was present at the protest, it is all a 'mili bhagat' (hand in glove) play of politics." When asked by the media about his reaction to the proposed new party, Fadnavis said that he had not heard which Jain guru had said what. "The Jain munis sacrifice in their lives," he said. " We respect them a lot and lead our lives as per their teachings."...