Traders believe the Act will adversely affect their business, tourism
Panaji; 17 Dec: At the time when the BJP government in Karnataka is making every effort to bring Prevention of Cow Slaughter Act, even by means of promulgating an ordinance, the beef traders of neighboring State; Goa have appealed their Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to try to prevent the Karnataka government from passing the Act.
According to sources, the meat traders have asked Sawant to use his office to stop Karnataka from bringing an ordinance to prevent cow slaughter Act.
The Karnataka government recently passed the Act in assembly however since it could not clear it is the council, the government is planning to bring an ordinance for the Act. While the BJP and members of Right Wing are celebrating it, the Congress and JD(S) have opposed the decision stating that it will put more trouble on farmers as they will not be in a position to take care of unproductive cows, nor can they offer it for free to any Go Shala.
Meanwhile in the letter, Meat Traders Association of Goa has said that beef is a part of staple diet in Goa’s multi-cultural society and is consumed by the visiting tourists and if the law came into force in Karnataka, it would have a severe impact in the coastal state.
“In these circumstances, we turn to your good offices to intercede for the state of Goa so that the said act is not notified, in as much as the state of Karnataka is ruled by a BJP-led coalition government, just like in Goa as well as at the Centre, and we earnestly believe that in these times of crisis, it is only your good offices that can prevent the said act from being notified,” the letter to Sawant said.
Goa imports a major chunk of beef from Karnataka mainly from the border district of Belgavi. On an average, Goa consumes nearly 25 tonnes of beef everyday. The demand rises during the tourism season which stretches from October to March.
The red meat is commonly consumed by tourists, as well as by members of the minority communities in the state, which account for more than 30 per cent of the population.
The new anti-cow slaughter bill passed in the Karnataka state assembly is believed to have an adverse impact on beef sales in Goa, a state which is largely reliant on the southern state to fulfill its demand for live cattle or slaughtered beef, the association said.
“It is respectfully stated that if the said act is notified and becomes a law, it will be a major setback to the members of the undersigned association in as much as the undersigned association will be deprived of carrying on with their sole occupation viz. meat trading,” the letter said.
