Team Herald
margao: NCP MLA Churchill Alemao has demanded that the Government of Goa starts full-fledged operations of Goa Meat Complex in view of the absence of beef supply from Karnataka.
Churchill added that the Government can’t stop what people wish to eat and he added that he will meet the Chief Minister with this demand.
Churchill was speaking amidst the presence of Shaikh Iftekhar of the Goa Muslim Forum, Abdul Matin Carol, and others where he criticised the recent Act passed by the Karnataka government to stop the slaughter of all cattle.
“We need 15 to 20 tonnes of beef daily in Goa, which includes requirements for domestic consumption as well as for hotels and tourism industry. I demand that the government increases the capacity of the meat complex to 200 cattle handling so that the demand is met with” he added.
“I don’t like BJP because of the kind of moves that they make, which are not in the larger interest of the public of the country. You can’t stop the meat, this is my diet. I don’t support CM because he is BJP but because he has the understanding for all the people in the society” said Churchill.
“Till I am alive, I won’t allow stopping of beef in Goa. We eat according to our religious practices. Bring from Maharashtra if you don’t get it. You have to take care of the Hindu Muslim and Catholic people of Goa together. Don’t think of creating differences within Goans. My supporters and I will not allow the stoppage of beef” warned Churchill.
Shaikh Iftekar of the Goa Muslims Forum said “Beef is the food in the poor man’s platter. 20 to 25 tonnes is imported to Goa regularly. I remember Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar once saying in his visit to Orissa that you can come to Goa to eat beef. Today there is none, even for the tourism industry” said Iftekar.
“We follow all the guidelines of the High Court for the transportation of beef. Goa doesn’t have many bulls so we are dependent on Karnataka for bulls. Qureshi meat traders sell only legal beef. But we are troubled by the vigilantes on border areas of Goa Karnataka” Iftekar complained.
He also mentioned that there is no ban on beef exporters but there is a stoppage on local trade of beef. “Let the 4 pieces system continue for transportation of beef to Goa. The CM has to give us the security to transport those stocks,” the traders added.
