Closure issue gathers steam

SURAT, Aug 20: The demand to keep slaughter houses open during Paryushan, a sacred week of the Jains, gained momentum on Thursday, with a...

SURAT, Aug 20: The demand to keep slaughter houses open during Paryushan, a sacred week of the Jains, gained momentum on Thursday, with a number of organisations supporting the stance taken by the Shoshan Virodhi Manch and the Ahya-e-Umah, that closing down of slaughter houses amounted to thousands being deprived of their means of livelihood.

The organisations, in a statement issued on Thursday, asked the Standing Committee of the Surat Municipal Corporation to reconsider the issue and arrive at a logical conclusion. The civic body, in a directive, had ordered all slaughter houses within its limit to remain close from August 19 to 26 on account of the holy week.

Meanwhile, officials of the SMC market department conducted raids at a number of slaughter houses in different parts of the city, including Udhna, Limbayat, Salabatpura and Rander.

It may be noted that the High Court had rejected a petition earlier this week, where an applicant had demanded a stay on the state government directive.

President of the Shoshan Virodhi Manch Akil Mohammed Deshmukh and president of the Ahya-e-Umah Iqbal Shaikh, in a release, alleged that the directive was against the interests of muslims. Among others, the Mazhhami Jamiat-e-Ulma, the Students Islamic Movement of India and the Islamic Dawa Mission, besides a number of social groups, have extended support to the two organisations.

The leaders, while asking the SMC to conduct a debate in the house on the issue and then arrive at a decision, have stated that according to their knowledge, the civic body could issue such a directive only under specific circumstances, like an epidemic or any communal violence.

8220;Nothing like this is happening now and there is no reason to issue the directive,8221; Ikbal Deshmukh said. Copies of the letter have been sent to the National Minority Commission, Delhi, the National Human Rights Commission, the Social Welfare Ministry and the State Health Officer.

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When contacted, Surat Municipal Corporation officials told Express Newsline, that there was no reason why the directive should be withdrawn and maintained that the Surat Municipal Corporation was empowered to issue such orders.

Meanwhile, Prafful Mehta, superintendent of the Market department with his staff continued raids at a number of slaughter houses on Thursday. Though the exact figures were not available, officials said a number of persons had been taken into custody for violating the directive.