UP CM Yogi Adityanath walks the talk, orders ban on cow smuggling, seeks roadmap for shutting down slaughterhouses

The BJP had announced that it would take "stern steps to close down all illegal slaughterhouses besides banning mechanised slaughterhouses" if it comes to power.

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is in action mode. On Wednesday, the newly-inducted CM directed police officials to prepare an action plan for the closure of abattoirs in the state.

Adityanath also ordered a blanket ban on smuggling of cows.

The Lucknow Municipal Corporation soon swung into action and sealed nine meat shops in Mahanagar and Aliganj.

Official sources, however, did not specify the type of slaughterhouses which will be shut.

As per the Lucknow Municipal Corporation's estimate, there are approximately 200-250 meat shops that are running illegally in the city of Nawabs where foodies flock for mouthwatering 'kebabs' (a grilled meat dish).

Besides, not a single slaughterhouse in the city is authorised to function as the four the state capital were issued closure notices by the UP Pollution Control Board between 2013 and 2015.

One, which existed in the cantonment area, was sealed by the cantonment board, while the other three were in Motijheel, Aminabad and Kasaibada areas here.

"There are shops running in shanties which are not following norms. Such shops need to be regulated or closed down," Chief Veterinary Officer LMC AK Rao. 

IG (Lucknow zone) A Satish Ganesh had said yesterday that a comprehensive drive has been launched across 11 districts around Lucknow against illegal transportation of cattle and meat, slaughterhouses and cow slaughter.

Besides Lucknow, the other districts are Unnao, Barabanki, Rae Bareli, Sitapur, Hardoi, Lakhimpur Kheri, Amethi, Sultanpur, Faizabad and Ambedkar Nagar.

DGP Javeed Ahmed has already issued necessary directives in this regard to district police chiefs through video conferencing.

The development comes only three days after a BJP government led by CM Yogi Adityanath was sworn-in in Uttar Pradesh.

On Tuesday, a slaughterhouse, which was allegedly being run illegally, was sealed by the district authorities in the Kamalgadaha locality under Jaitpura police station in Varanasi.

As per police officials, the slaughterhouse had been shutdown in 2012, but it continued to operate in a clandestine manner.

A joint team of Pollution Control Board, municipal authorities, along with administrative and police officials sealed the slaughterhouse and also recovered over five dozen cattle.

Earlier, shortly after Adityanath took oath on Sunday, authorities had sealed two slaughterhouses in Allahabad.

The BJP had announced, in its manifesto titled 'Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra', that it would take "stern steps to close down all illegal slaughterhouses besides banning mechanised slaughterhouses" if it comes to power.

The BJP document had observed that due to cow smuggling, dairy-based industries have failed to flourish.

It noted that during the past state governments there has been a fall in cattle count, reflecting that bovine smuggling was rampant.

BJP chief Amit Shah in his election meetings had emphasised that the moment his party comes to power in the state, it would ban all slaughterhouses.

Adityanath had launched his first movement against illegal slaughter houses in Gorakhpur region way back in 2002.

Volunteers of Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV), an organisation floated by the five-time MP from Gorakhpur, were mobilised to launch an agitation against those slaughter houses.

After the success of the agitation, the HYV had launched a massive campaign against slaughter houses and cattle-lifting.

In his orders issued today, Adityanath also directed the police to act tough against anti-social elements.

He warned that those using police security as "status symbol" would come under the scanner and after review of their threat perception their security might be changed. 

(With Agency inputs)