UP meatsellers on indefinite strike;don't associate crackdown with religion:Govt

Clarifying that its crackdown is directed only against illegal slaughterhouses, the BJP led government in Uttar Pradesh today said that attempts to associate this drive with a particular religion were part of a conspiracy to defame it. The Aditya Nath Yogi's government's move aims to ensure health safety of the people by ensuring safe and clean meat to them, state Cabinet Minister Shrikant Sharma said.

"Our government is going by the rule book and following the orders of Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal. The action is against only illegal slaughter houses. As far as meat shop owners are concerned, I would suggest that rather than go on strike, its better that they follow the rules," Sharma told PTI. Meat sellers, especially mutton vendors, today kept their shops closed on the first day of their indefinite strike against the statewide crackdown on illegal and mechanised slaughter houses.

Reports from several districts said goat meat was not easily available, even as chicken was being sold in few shops. Expressing similar views to Sharma, another Cabinet minister Siddhartha Nath Singh said that no orders have been issued for taking any action against shops selling chicken, fish or eggs. Singh added that he had directed the officials not to act in over-enthusiasm and nor should they overstep their jurisdiction.

Noting that the National Green Tribunal had insisted on closure of illegal slaughter houses, Singh said, "The NGT had in 2015 observed that illegal slaughter houses are a concern for the environment, while insisting on their closure." Reacting sharply to opposition to the move, Singh said propaganda is being carried out against the state government over this issue.

Sharma also said that some political outfits are associating this step with one specific religion as a part of larger conspiracy to defame the state government. People are intelligent they will not fall prey to this, he said. Taking on former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over the issue, Sharma said the Samajwadi Party leader did not act on the orders of the apex court and NGT, as for Yadav politics comes before the interests of the public.