VASCO: People from different communities in the port town have set an ultimatum to officials of Goa Meat Complex (GMC) to start slaughtering of cattle from Monday, failing which they have threatened to stage a protest rally.
Speaking to Herald, senior citizen Alfred D’Costa said the government is playing into the hands of a few fanatics, who claim to be members of animal welfare groups. “On the pretext of hygiene, these fanatics are stopping the import of meat from across the border,” said D’Costa.
“Surprisingly, those who do not eat meat are concerned about the health of others. It is also surprising to note that government and other authorities concerned are blindly accepting their suggestions,” added D’Costa.
“Our forefathers ate meat when animals were slaughtered in the open and when there were no refrigerators to preserve the meat. Even the Food and Drugs Administration was in existence and despite all this, we survived without any illness,” he added.
“FDA has singled out only the beef stalls to fall in line as per the guidelines of their department, failing which the FDA will cancel their license. If FDA is so concerned about the health of the people, then they should visit fish markets and chicken stalls and ascertain the poor hygiene there,” added D’Costa.
“While those involved in bringing cattle from across the State are subjected by the government to procure a certificate fit for transportation and fit for slaughtering, the government and the so-called animal welfare NGOs should also direct those involved in slaughtering chicken to procure similar certificates before getting the live stock into the State from across the border,” said D’Costa.
Another senior citizen Rafique Shaik said BJP had promised ‘achche din’ and had also assured the minority community that the government would work towards betterment of the minority community.
“It has started showing its true colours by targeting the minority communities, making baseless remarks and stopping the sale of meat. We call upon the Muslim leader in BJP Abbas Naqvi at the Centre and Sheik Jinha to intervene and ensure justice, or else they should quit the party.”
Shaik urged both leaders to object to the bill which seeks to ban cattle slaughter.
“If the bill is passed by the State government and then by the Centre, then hundreds of people will be rendered jobless,” he said.
A beef stall owner said they were informed that the GMC would start cattle slaughtering by this weekend.
