No ban on cow slaughter in three Northeast states if party comes to power next year: BJP

Clearing confusion over its action against slaughter houses in the state, UP government said on Monday that it was acting only against the illegal abattoirs.

Pic for representational purpose only

Delhi: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clarified on Monday that ban on cow slaughter would not be imposed in three Northeastern states which go to polls next year if the party comes to power.

“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 Hindustan Times.

On the other hand, BJP’s Meghalaya unit general secretary David Kharsati issued a statement blaming “groups with vested interest” for spreading rumours.

Meghalaya BJP chief Shibun Lyngdoh was quoted as saying by the Daily, “Even in UP, action is being taken on slaughter houses operating without proper license. While there would be no ban on cow slaughter, we would like the government to ensure killing and sale of animals is done legally and in a hygienic manner.” 

Lhoungu also said, “We are in BJP because of the party’s development agenda. The party’s position is improving and more and more people are joining. Things look bright for next year.”

And Mizoram's BJP president JV Hluna said, as per HT, “There would be no ban on cow slaughter in Mizoram and other states in the region where there is a majority Christian population.” 

Christian majority in Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland widely consume beef.

Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said today that only illegal slaughter houses are being shut in Uttar Pradesh and there cannot be a difference of opinion that they should be shut.

Replying to the supplementary question, Sitharaman said, "What is being done in Uttar Pradesh is about illegal slaughter houses. I think even the honourable member would not want illegal slaughter houses to function. The Chief Minister (Adityanath Yogi) has been clear (that) he is talking about illegal slaughter houses. There cannot be a difference of opinion here," as per IANS.

The UP government also said today that it was acting only against the illegal abattoirs.

"We are acting only against illegal abattoirs. Licenced slaughter houses are requested to stick to the norms," Health Minister Siddhartha Nath Singh told reporters.

"The licenced slaughter houses should comply with the norms mentioned in the licence and need not to fear," he said.

"No orders have been issued to take any action against any shop selling chicken, fish or eggs. They need not to fear," Singh clarified, as per PTI.

He directed the officials that they should not act in over-enthusiasm nor they should overstep their jurisdiction.

Noting that the National Green Tribunal had insisted on closure of illegal slaughter houses, Singh said, "The NGT had in 2015 observed that illegal slaughter houses are a concern for the environment, while insisting on their closure. However, the previous government did not do anything to ensure the closure of these illegal abattoirs."

Incidentally, meat sellers across the state today went on an indefinite strike against the crackdown on illegal and mechanised slaughterhouses.

(With Agency inputs)