Ramdev wants Goa to ban cattle slaughter

 In a tourist state well known for its roast beef and beef steaks, yoga guru Ramdev Tuesday promised he would leverage on Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to ban cattle slaughter.

Ramdev also said Parrikar promised him in a meeting earlier Tuesday, that he would arrest some bigwigs responsible for illegal mining in the state.

"I will try my utmost to ensure that cattle slaughter is banned in Goa. I will certainly convince Parrikar and make sure it happens," said Ramdev.

The yoga guru added he was preparing a plan where cattle could be used for agricultural chores and thereby the animals escape a butcher's cleaver.

Goa has a 30% plus minority population for whom beef is staple meat. A small section of the non-minority population also consumes red meat.

Beef-oriented dishes like roasts, steaks, curries are invariably found on the menus of coastal restaurants frequented by the over three million annual tourists.

"Cattle slaughter has to be stopped across India. That is my agenda," Ramdev said.

The yoga guru, who has been carrying out an anti-corruption campaign for the past several years, also said Parrikar assured him that several magnates linked to illegal mining would be arrested within the next two or three months.

"I had raised the issue of illegal mining during my last visit to Goa. Now, Parrikar has personally assured me that several big fish in the illegal mining industry would be arrested within the next couple of months," Ramdev said.

When asked whether he found it surprising that the chief minister's assurance came with the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, Ramdev said: "We will see if he honours his assurance or else I will start a protest here."