Beef dealers vow to keep off water buffaloes, plan protests

“We have completely stopped slaughter of any buffalo. The ban has hit us hard and we want our regular business to continue, which we cannot because of the ban. So we have decided not to cull anything and all beef dealers in the state have agreed to a complete stop in slaughtering of buffaloes,” said Mohammed Qureshi, president of the Mumbai Suburban Beef Dealers Association.

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Around 8,000 butchers, caretakers of cattle at slaughterhouses, beef dealers, packagers and farmers participated in a protest gathering organised by the Sarv Shramik Sangh, under the umbrella New Trade Union Initiative.

“This ban was enforced without any discussion with workers, beef dealers. We are also offended that statements that cow slaughter is happening at Deonar and other slaughterhouses. There are no cows killed at Deonar or anywhere else so political parties should stop adding a religious colour to this. This ban does not only affect the Muslims, it affects a larger community, including Hindus, who are involved in meat packaging, cosmetics made from the cattle parts and the leather industry,” said Vijay Dalvi, secretary of the Sangh.
A delegation also met Ranjeet Patil, minister of state for urban development on Tuesday to discuss the issue. Dalvi said that stakeholders have planned a protest march from Deonar abattoir till Azad Maidan on March 24, if the ban is not repealed.

Hotel owners are already removing beef dishes from their menu due to the shortage. “Beef shops in our area are shut. Earlier, we used to buy around 10 kg of beef for our famous dishes Beef Roast and Double Fry, but now we had to remove those dishes from the menu as even water buffalo meat is not available,” said Mohamed Sheikh, cashier at Sneha, Mahim. The hotel is owned by VP Ravindran, a Vashi resident.

The ban has already resulted in a hike in cost of mutton, which now sells at Rs 450 per kg, up from Rs 360 per kg.

anjali.lukose@expressindia.com