The court order banning sale and consumption of beef in the state is not only an “interference in religious and culinary practices” of the people, but the ban, if implemented, can impact the livelihood of nearly three lakh people, and can render them jobless.
The apprehensions of people losing jobs due the ban were augmented with Union minister of state for agriculture Sanjeev Balyan calling for strict implementation of beef ban in Jammu and Kashmir.
Leaders of Valley butchers association told KNS that lakhs of people are directly associated with the beef selling in Kashmir, who would be rendered jobless if government implements the recently passed high court orders banning sale and consumption of beef in state.
“There are thousands of people in every district who are associated with this business. Not only butchers are earning out of beef their livelihood, but there are other thousands of businessmen running restaurants, barbeque shops and kiosks,” general secretary, All Kashmir Butchers Union (AKBU), Irfan Rego told KNS.
Rego said that government must consider the rehabilitation of these people first, before implementing the court order in the state. “More than three lakh people are earning from beef business in valley. They will be jobless if ban on bovine slaughter is implemented here,” he said.
Terming the ban as anti-Muslim conspiracy, Rego said high court orders are allegedly aimed at weakening the Muslim economy in the state.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
Pertinently, Union minister for agriculture, Sanjeev Balyan on Monday called for a strict implementation of the beef ban in the state ordered by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, and advocated that action must be taken against any individual who defies the court ruling.
Vice president, Mutton Dealers Union, Mehraj-uddin Ganai said that there are also thousands of people who are earning from the bovine hides.
“Hundreds of people in every city and town make their both ends meet on beef business. If ban is implemented it will only raise unemployment in the state,” he said.
Ganai said that the ban on the bovine slaughter is already in place in the state, but was never implemented.
“As compared to urban areas, the consumption of beef is high in rural areas of valley. We can find at least a butcher shop selling beef in every village here,” Ganai added.
Pertinent to mention, following Jammu and Kashmir Jammu high court orders banning sale and consumption of beef last week triggered massive protests across valley. Agitating the court orders, people slaughtered dozens of bovine at different places in valley as a mark of protest against the move.
Terming the move as interference in religious affairs, preachers during their sermons on last Friday also appealed valley Muslims to prefer bovine slaughtering on Eid Qurban to be commemorated on September 25. (KNS)