Srinagar: The spiritual head of Ajmer Dargah Zainul Abedin Ali Khan on Monday extended his support to the government's decision to ban beef and called upon the community to stop consuming cow meat. 


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Khan, who is the Deewan of the shrine of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti, along with other Sufi heads urged the Narendra Modi-led central government to declare cow as the national animal of the country.


Speaking to media, the spiritual head urged the government to legislate a special law and ban illegal slaughterhouses across the country.


"It is fine if we do not eat cow, we are not depriving ourselves from anything. Moreover it causes diabetics. I would appeal for complete ban in cow meet. The government has to make banning cow slaughter," Khan said.


Following Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's order on closing down on illegal slaughterhouses, several states, including as many as five of the BJP-ruled states have followed in for the closure of illegal abattoirs across the country.


Several slaughter house owners and meat sellers in Uttar Pradesh have closed their shops following an indefinite strike call by different associations in protest against the order.


Even as the Jharkhand Government earlier last week issued an order for closure of all illegal slaughterhouses in the state within 72 hours, the Gujarat State Assembly on Friday amended its Cow Protection Law introducing a life term for those slaughtering the animal.


Seven illegal slaughterhouses were sealed in Bihar's Rohtas district after the Patna High Court directed them be sealed within six weeks.


In Karnataka too, the Gau Samrakshana Prakoshta and Karnataka Federation of Gaushaalas reportedly have demanded 1,700 meat shops in the city be closed down as they are unauthorised.