It may be easier to have a Kobe steak that costs upwards of 100 dollars abroad, than to have some beef xacuti that in an average Goan restaurant costs closer to 1 dollar. The reason: Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, when he could have ensured supply of beef, has instead appealed to NGOs not to disrupt the supply of the meat to Goa.
For the past few weeks there has been a shortage of beef in the State as NGOs blocked the supply of the meat.
Now, raising apprehensions that stoppage of supply of beef might lead to communal problems, Parsekar appealed to sections of NGOs and animal lovers not to stop the supply of the meat from neighbouring States.
The Chief Minister, admitting that the State’s population includes 38 percent minorities, who whom beef is a part of the cuisine, said, “I feel people should not stop supply of beef from other states to Goa,” arguing that NGOs can take police protection to prevent atrocities against the animals.
“But they should not stop beef supply which can create communal disharmony.”
This appeal has raised questions from people seeking to know whether the government is so weak that it cannot set its machinery to work to ensure supply and why is it abrogating its responsibility to guarantee good, hygienic and legal beef is available to all its citizens. There were also questions raised whether the government was just protecting a few NGOs whose views its shares.
Locals point out that the supply of beef was never an issue in the State before this. “Why this xenophobia and dictatorial attitude only now?” asked a resident of Panjim.
They also wanted to know why no action was being taken to streamline the supply of beef, reign in the fanatical fringe elements and ensure that non issues are kept out of discussion.
Beef, after the BJP-led government came to power at the centre, has been pushed into the limelight with demands that it be banned and some States, like Maharashtra, have banned it.
