To woo voters in three northeastern states, the Bharatiya Janata Party recently clarified that they would not impose a ban on beef if the party comes into power. Party’s this statement came days after the new BJP government in Uttar Pradesh launched a a crackdown on cow slaughter and illegal abattoirs.
Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland will go to polls next year. The majority of Christian community in these states widely consume beef. According to the census data, 88% of Nagaland’s population of are Christians. 87% are in Mizoram and nearly 75% are in Meghalaya.
“Ban on cow slaughter like the one in UP won’t take effect in Nagaland if our party comes to power next year. The reality here is very different and our central leaders are aware of that,” Nagaland BJP chief Visasolie Lhoungu told the Hindustan Times.
“Even in UP, action is being taken on slaughter houses operating without proper license,” Meghalaya BJP chief Shibun Lyngdoh said.
Meanwhile, on banning illegal abattoirs, Uttar Pradesh’s newly appointed Chief Minister Aditya Nath said he was only following the directions of the NGT to close down illegal slaughter houses in the state.
“The government will not trouble those slaughter houses following norms and having license. But the ones which are violating NGT norms, which are polluting the environment and posing threat to public health, would not be spared,” Yogi said he added.
Following CM’s this move, meat sellers across Uttar Pradesh have gone on an indefinite strike.
Reacting on Yogi’s move, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday urged Uttar Pradesh government to give time to illegal abattoirs for regularisation.
