Government is threatening our livelihood by mixing this trade with religion, meat sellers say
Mumbai/Malegaon: While most of the association members working for the beef traders are still in shock two days after the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act (MAPA) 1995 is signed by president Pranab Mukherji, the meat sellers and common man across were worried over the dire impact the law will have on their livelihood.
"We are in tounch with organisations working in other parts of the state. A meeting of our federation will also be called after getting the complete details of the law", Usman Qureshi of Malegaon Beef Traders' Federation said while talking to ummid.com.
On the other hand, Shaikh Fareed, ex-councilor and one of the key members of Beef Traders' Association said they will try to convince the government not to go ahead with the implementation of the law.
"This is the question of our survival. We will try to talk to the government. If it is not convinced we will go to the court to challenge the law", he said.
Beef traders' associations in Mumbai, Nashik and other parts of the state too are holding consultations on various levels so that a concrete and unanimous response on the move is worked out.
In contrast to the cool response of the associations, meat sellers expressed concern over the serious impact the law will have on their livelihood and added burden on common man.
"Why only bulls and bullocks, the government should also ban the buffalo slaughter flourishing under government protection", Nafees Qureshi, ex-councilor and a trader said.
"On one hand the government is imposing restrictions on us, on the other, it is encouraging buffalo meat export. If the government is honest in its opposition against animal slaughter, it should also stop giving licenses for buffalo slaughter and meat export", he added.
"Thousands of people are associated with animal slaughter and other trade, and they are mostly poor and from backward class. The government is threatening our livelihood by mixing this trade with religion", he said.
He also said that the law enforcement will result is increase slaughter of buffalos which will further bring the milk prices under pressure. He demanded from the government to provide them jobs before going ahead with the enforcement of the law.
"Beef is the cheapest available meat option for thousands of families living under below poverty line (BPL) in Malegaon. Any hasty decision to enforce ban on animal slaughter will seriously hit poor people", said Yusuf Ansari, a retired teacher.
Meanwhile, local police administration is preparing the department for the smooth implementation of the law in the city.
"We have not yet received the copy of the law and complete details. But, suo-moto, I have directed all concerned police stations to call meetings of the beef traders to sensitize them about the law", Additional SP Sunil Kadasane said while talking to ummid.com.
Meanwhile, the bill has divided opposition Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), with the latter saying that it would cause hardship to farmers.
"Congress welcomes the President's assent. This bill has been pending for long with the President... But care should be taken that this is not used as a political tool to gather support. The implementation of this law needs to be totally transparent," Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil told PTI.
But NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said ruling BJP was "misguiding" the people and causing an economic "loss" to the state to please a section of the society.
"A blanket ban will cause the biggest problems for farmers. A farmer has to spend at least Rs 5,000 a month to take care of such animals. It is now the responsibility of the government to come out with a mechanism to take in all unfit animals and take care of them as long as they live," Malik said.
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