Hit hard by the ban on slaughter of bullocks, beef traders will form a social coalition with other stakeholders, who are similarly impacted by it, and challenge the law in court. They will, however, not protest the ban on the streets to prevent the issue from turning communal and being hijacked by politicians.
Hit hard by the ban on slaughter of bullocks, beef traders will form a social coalition with other stakeholders, who are similarly impacted by it, and challenge the law in court. They will, however, not protest the ban on the streets to prevent the issue from turning communal and being hijacked by politicians.
Leaders from the Qureshi community, which is involved in beef trade, organised a meeting with Muslim clerics, legislators, lawyers and voluntary groups, on Monday.
"We will fight it out legally. We are talking to senior lawyers about seeking relief from the courts," said Muhammed Ali Qureshi, president of Beef Dealers Association at Deonar abattoir.
"We will reach out to beef eaters from communities like Christians and Dalits and convince them about the problems which will be created by this decision. We will also involve the leather industry. Farmers, who sell off their unproductive cattle will also be affected by the ban which will add to their existing financial burden. We will try to take these stakeholders along," added Qureshi, stating that they would forge a social coalition of those who would be directly or indirectly affected by the ban.
While the killing of cows and calves (male and female) is already banned under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, approved during the tenure of the erstwhile Shiv Sena-BJP government, had sought to extend it to bulls and bullocks. President Pranab Mukherjee granted his assent to the bill which was pending since 1996. Offenders risk Rs10,000 as fines and five years in jail.
"We will not agitate on the streets... We do not want to disturb communal peace in the state as Qureshis taking to the streets will be given a communal tinge and the issue will get a wrong colour of one that is Hindu versus Muslim. This may also become a political issue. We want to keep it seperate from politics as this is more of a social problem than a political one and taking to the streets will help politicians hijack the issue,"' said Qureshi.
"The government has no funds to compensate families of farmers who have committed suicides. The already indigent farmers will collapse due to the burden of rearing unproductive cattle. From where will they get fodder to feed them." questioned Congress MLA from Mumbadevi, Amin Patel, who was present at the meeting.
AIMIM MLA from Aurangabad, Imtiaz Jaleel, said the meeting had decided that two committees — one to assess the impact of the ban on direct and indirect employment and the total number of animals slaughtered, and the other to test the legal options available — would be formed. Another meeting will be held soon to decide the future course of action, he added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}