Source: Indian Express
Soon after crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses in Uttar Pradesh, a group of meat sellers and butchers met state Health Minister Sidharth Nath Singh on Tuesday to submit a memorandum.
“We informed the minister about hardships we are facing. Thousands of people have become jobless. Many poor people are struggling for food,” “We asked him to ensure that the civic bodies start renewing licences that have expired and urged him to identify places where animals can be slaughtered until modern slaughterhouses are developed.” Umar Chaudhary, general secretary of All-India Jamiatul Quresh (AIMQ) said.
Closing down unauthorized slaughterhouses was long promised by the BJP government, however the butchers and meat dealers have been severely hit by the government’s move and butchers across the nation are going for a strike for over the weekend. AIMQ president Sirajuddin Qureshi led the delegation for the meeting, which comes a day after the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court asked the state government to submit details of directions and orders issued for the drive against slaughterhouses and meat shops.
“The minister said he will discuss our issues with officers and get back in two or three days. We will continue with our strike until a permanent solution is found,” said Shahabuddin Quraishi, general secretary of Lucknow-based Quraish Welfare Foundation.