TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The Congress has urged Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to come clear on whether his government would allow Muslims to perform Qurbani at the Goa Meat Complex.
Addressing the media, secretary Goa Pradesh Congress Committee Urfan Mulla has appealed to the government to explain well in advance its opinion on the qurbani issue since it is an offering made annually by Muslims all around the world on Eid-Ul-Adha (Bakri Eid). “We have come to know from the media that certain persons have quoted the Chief Minister as saying the government would allow qurbani at the Goa Meat Complex. The Muslim community would like to hear government’s promise from the Chief Minister and Goa Meat Complex Chairman Lyndon Monteiro for better arrangement at the complex,” Mulla said.
Saying that qurbani is a religious ritual and not a commercial activity, he said Goan Muslims have been carrying out Qurbani at various places by taking care of hygiene.
“In other states, including Maharashtra, facility is made available to Muslims during the three days,” he added.
Mulla recalled that Article 14 and 226 of the Constitution of India guarantees equality before the law without any discrimination on the lines of caste and creed. “Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution give freedom of conscience and free profession, practice, propagation of religions without hurting religious sentiments,” he added.
He said Muslims in Goa had been carrying out slaughter of animals, namely bulls as per the mandate of law, namely the provision of Goa Animal Preservation Act, 1995, the Goa, Daman & Diu Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, 1978 and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, adding that beef is being consumed by a large section of Goan population.
