Team Herald
PORVORIM: Claiming that interference from so-called gau rakshaks had led to the closure of the government-run abattoir, which had deprived Goa’s beef eating population, Deputy Speaker and Calangute MLA Michael Lobo on Wednesday hit out at his own party’s government for failing to crack down on cow vigilantes.
Lobo demanded that Goa Meat Complex, which is shut down and not functioning should be restarted immediately.
“Some so-called cow protectors are standing at the border and blocking the beef that is being brought into the State. I think the government has totally failed on this,” Lobo said in the House.
He added, “Goa was hit by a shortage of beef in recent times after trader’s limited transportation from Karnataka citing harassment by cow vigilantes. They say that some gau-rakshaks have thrown phenyl on the beef. I want the minister to tell me when Goa Meat Complex will start which has been shut down due to silly reasons and whether there will be interference from so-called gau rakshaks.”
He further said that the shortage of beef was affecting the tourism sector and that there are tourists who come to the State to eat beef. “Goa has a sizeable population of Christians and Muslims who consume beef. For our feasts there is a shortage of beef. Also there are some tourists who specially come to Goa to eat beef,” Lobo added.
The Calangute MLA also alleged that a vehicle carrying beef from Belagavi to Goa was stopped near Keri and damaged despite having all the requisite permissions for transportation.
Goa’s sole abattoir, shut since October last year, could not restart after a new stunning gun, used as part of the animal slaughtering protocol, developed snags thus resulting in a shortage of beef in Goa.
