Muslim traders to launch anti-beef campaign in UP

Amid controversy over beef ban in Maharashtra, Muslim traders in Uttar Pradesh have decided to launch a campaign against cow slaughter and eating beef during the forthcoming holy month of Ramzan.

 The UP Muslim Traders’ Association would be sending hundreds of workers to the Muslim-dominated areas in the state before the beginning of Ramzan to persuade them not to eat beef.

Shamim Shamsi, president of the association, said the government should impose a ban on cow slaughter and export of beef.  “We will create awareness among the Muslims on this issue. We will try to persuade them to desist from cow slaughter and eating beef,” Shamsi said.

Muslim traders have also sought financial assistance to those, who keep cows. “Often the poor farmers, unwillingly sell their cows for being slaughtered, when they stop giving milk,” said another trader.

“Such farmers will not sell their cows if they get financial assistance from the government,” they added.

They also said most of the slaughterhouses in the state were owned by musclemen politicians and as a result, no action was taken against them. Senior Muslim clerics also extended support to the campaign saying they would do their bit in creating awareness on this issue.

“We have always been opposed to cow slaughter. We should avoid eating beef as it hurts the sentiments of the Hindus,” said senior Sunni cleric and All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali.

 Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad also voiced similar sentiments. Ban on beef in Maharashtra and the recent remarks made by some NDA ministers, including Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju, and Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, have triggered a huge controversy over the issue.