Mixture of religious fundamentalism of its worst kind and politics is a deadly explosive which is manifested in the fear faced by not only the minorities but even a section of the majority community in this country. The politicians have failed to feel the pulse of the citizens. The legislators who are elected to work towards development and well being of its citizens are working overtime to see that the citizens are deprived of their fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution. This is a country obsessed with banning everything. Ban on films, books, food, dress, drinks, freedom of expression, rights of same sex couples, etc. The list goes on and on. It is anybody’s guess where it will end.
Come Sunday, the Christian community in Goa and elsewhere in the country are celebrating Easter and beef is not available in the cold storages or the meat shops in the market. A meat shop n Mapusa claims that a small consignment had arrived but it was sold in no time. The shortages of red meat will lead to black market and mushrooming of illegal slaughter houses in the state.
Here are some facts. India ranks second in the world in beef production and seventh in domestic consumption. As of 2004 there were 30000 illegal slaughter houses in India. Prime Minister Modi was accusing UPA of Pink Revolution during the election campaign of 2014 Lok Sabha elections, but the beef exports have increased by sixteen percent since the NDA Government has come to power. Russia, Vietnam, China and the Gulf countries like Saudi Arabia are some of the countries that import red meat from India. The Government claims that the exports are buffalo meat, but it is possible that cow meat also forms a significant part of exports.
India has no objections if red meat is exported to earn foreign exchange. If eating red meat in India is against Hindu religion, how does the Government justify exporting the meat, does it not hurt the sentiments of the majority Hindu community in India and the Hindus living outside India. Are the Hindus in India different from the Hindus who are working or settled abroad? The Government must be ashamed that it is framing laws that defy logic.
