The Goa Meat Traders Association (GMTA) has called an indefinite strike over the rising cases of vigilantism in the name of beef.
The Goa Meat Traders Association (GMTA) has called an indefinite strike over the rising cases of vigilantism in the name of beef.
As per an Indian Express report, the GMTA, an umbrella body that supplies meat across the state, has been trying to meet the state government authorities over ‘forced complaints of vigilantism and harassment” by NGOs and people claiming to represent the animal welfare board.
The association has 70 traders who then supply to retail houses across Goa. Since Christmas, when the consumption of meat is the highest, the association said, the “raids” have continued by citizens who never carry “any identity card or documentation showing which NGO they belong to”.
The traders have also alleged that the groups stall trucks at check posts where they destroy the meat. A representative of the association said that the group begins by taking photographs of the meat, claiming it is beef.
In July this year, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said the state-run abattoir produces around 2,000 kgs of beef per day and the additional demand for it is met by supplies from neighbouring Karnataka.
Addressing the state assembly on the first day of the monsoon session, Parrikar, in reply to a BJP member's concern over the quality of beef supplied from the neighbouring state, said the beef purchased from Karnataka would be subjected to proper inspection. "Approximately 2,000 kgs beef is produced per day at the state abattoir of the Goa Meat Complex Limited, while rest of beef is brought in from Karnataka. "The estimated sale of beef, based on the meat inspection charges paid by beef dealers/traders is approximately 2,300 - 2,400 kgs/day," said Parrikar, who also holds the animal husbandry portfolio.
However, unlike Goa other parts of the country, especially Rajasthan, groups have actively halted dairy farmers accusing them of smuggling cattle. On Christmas Day, a BJP MLA from Rajasthan, Gyan Dev Ahuja, warned that those who smuggle and slaughter cows will be beaten up and killed.
Meanwhile, concerned over attacks on people transporting cattle in Alwar, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind has asked dairy farmers and cattle owners to not ferry bovines in the night hours to avoid any trouble.
A 55-year-old man from Haryana was attacked and killed by a mob in Alwar earlier this year. Besides, several cases of cow smuggling have been detected in Alwar district in the recent past.
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