Beef traders are unhappy with the Maharashtra government’s decision to ban the slaughter of bulls and bullocks. According to them many traders will become unemployed as they are dependent on this business for their livelihood. Traders fear that there would be a surge in prices of chicken, mutton and fish as people will start consuming these products. Beef was always known as a poor man’s meat as it was cheap as compared to other non-vegetarian products. Traders said that the government should have consulted them before bringing this legislation. The legislation will affect leather industry, farmers, middlemen, workers at slaughterhouses and retailers associated with the business. Anyone found to have beef in their possession or found selling beef can be jailed five years and fined Rs 10,000.
Khalil Qureshi, a proprietor of Modern Beef Shop from Mira Road said, “Not only Muslims but people belonging to other communities too consume beef. People used to stock huge quantities of beef at their homes. Since we wanted change we voted for BJP but the party has cheated us.”
“I have been running my business from this place since last 25 years. Since I have become unemployed, I will have to join another profession or else I will have to relocate to foreign country. I request the government to have a relook on the ban as it will affect the livelihood of many traders.”
Intezar Qureshi, vice president of The Bombay Suburban Beef Dealers Welfare Association, said: “We were already facing lot of problems. Now this ban is threatening to take away from us the only work we know.”
Another group that will be severely affected are farmers, who will now no longer be able to sell old, ageing cattle to the meat industry. “Farmers in Maharashtra are already killing themselves because of frequent drought conditions – will they be able to support old animals that eat more and drink several litres of water a day?” said Intezar Qureshi.
A leather trader spoke to AV on the condition of anonymity said, “Earlier we used to receive order of 20 leather materials per day but now our business will be severely affected. The government has not made any provision to rehabilitate us. I and my family are dependent on this trade. Now I am worried about my future.”
MIM legislator Waris Pathan said the Bakrid festival is approaching and a ban on slaughter of bulls and bullocks will put many Muslim families to great hardship as they cannot afford goats for sacrifice. “Our economy will be hit and unemployment will ruin several families,” added Pathan.
“This is not the issue of Muslims alone. Farmers and non-Muslims involved in beef and leather trade will be hit hard. The government has enforced a law which is anti-agrarian and will leave lakhs of people jobless. The government must review its decision,” demanded Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi.
Mumbai alone consumes around 90,000 kg beef daily, with around 25 percent accounting for water buffalo meat, called carabeef, through 900 licensed and hundreds more illegal outlets.
The state government has claimed that figures quoted by beef dealers and traders were exaggerated. “There is no question of 1 crore people becoming unemployed, as the slaughterhouses do not employ that many people. They have other options open as only bulls and bullocks have been banned from slaughter,” said Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
