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Hullabaloo over ban on illegal slaughter houses is largely misplaced
Lucknow: In the din created by sealing of slaughters houses in Uttar Pradesh, the main issue has been either completely ignored or deliberately swept under carpet. The main issue is : should a state government allow an illegal business or trade in any commodity in any part of the state?
The state has hundreds of illegal slaughter houses which are operating either without licences or licences which have expired long back. The new government which has just taken over ordered closure of all such outlets.
Clearly, the noise created over it deserved to be ignored. But some newspapers which love to highlight such sensitive issues cried hoarse over it. "Who moved (sic) my galawati? Kebab lovers wonder", screamed a headline. " Crackdown may "slaughter" meat trade, suspected another.
The impression which has been sought to be created is that the order was completely ill-conceived and that it is against the interest of the state and its economic health. The point is : should something which is illegal in the eyes of the law of the land be allowed to go unchecked?
To support the critics and create an anti- closure sentiment, these newspapers have also published some other stories. One of them said that one noted eatery which had specialized in cooking a particular type of Kebab which was popular all over the country and abroad has stopped serving this delicacy.
Another anti-order story reads: lions have been offered chicken instead of buffalo meat. Both are one -sided and motivated. The question which should have been asked is: why was Kebab maker buying meat from unauthorised places? As far as the second story is concerned, it has many holes. First. the government has not put a blanket ban and has not closed legal slaughter houses.
Second, if the zoo authorities did not have committed slaughter houses and could not arrange enough buffalo meat for the lions, they should be fired immediately. It is a clear case of inefficiency and negligence and nothing else.
According to one official report, Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of buffalo meat, accounting for 19 per cent of the total production in the country. Andhra Pradesh and West
Bengal are the second and third largest in terms of volume. But the state has only 285 mechanised slaughter houses . As far as the non-mechanised and legal slaughter houses are concerned, the number is a less than a 100.
Revenue loss to be caused to the state due to closure may run into thousands of crores of rupees, but none should advocate for revenue earning through illegal means because it will be against the law and constitution.
The hullabaloo seems have been primarily raised because the new government in the state is led by the Bharatiya Janata Party which is opposed to the appeasement policies of other parties and believes that being pro to any caste or community is against the spirit of the constitution.
Much has been also made of the fact that it was done without firing the warning shots. But, it amounts to saying that you run an illegal business as long as you do not receive a government notice. It does not sound good.
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