MARGAO: Congress MLA Reginaldo Lourenco on Tuesday has asked the BJP government to come clean on its stand on the beef issue, saying the government should immediately probe into corruption charges levelled against the Goa Meat Complex by the beleaguered traders.
Addressing the media, Reginaldo said the Constitution does not deny any citizen the right to consume any meat and demanded to know the reasons behind the acute shortage of beef in the State. “A few RSS and fringe elements have been trying to foment trouble in the State. First, they came up with Ghar wapsi and made a scathing attack on Mother Tereza to disrupt the social harmony. But, now Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks about the Prohibition of Cow slaughter across the country. Such a Bill will have far reaching consequences in the country where a large section of the population consumes beef. Moreover, the Constitution does not bar anyone from consuming any meat,” he said.
He said that vested interests have been making a strong case for the import of beef into the State, saying this will only help the business houses to rake in profits at the cost of the traders and the meat eaters. The Curtorim MLA said the traders are ready to slaughter animals as per the High Court order, but one hears the traders pointing accusing fingers of corruption at some people and the same should be investigated.
Saying that the government should come out clean on the issue and dispel apprehensions that the government is out to suffocate the beef eating Goans, Reginaldo said the government can show its sincerity and love for Goans by making beef available for meat eating people.
