Uttar Pradesh’s drive against illegal slaughter of buffaloes and goats has led to widespread corruption and confusion.
ILLEGALITY THRIVES IN Uttar Pradesh’s drive against illegal slaughter of buffaloes and goats. The action initiated after Yogi Adity-anath took over as Chief Minister on 19 March itself lacks due process. Some police officials and vigilantes owing allegiance to muscular Hindutva outfits like the Bajrang Dal are beating up buffalo suppliers and extorting money with little fear of being punished. By its inaction, the UP administration is doing unconstitutional things legally, like depriving citizens of livelihood, and their choice of food, as the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court observed about the Lakhimpur Kheri municipal corporation which was prevaricating on a goat meat seller’s license renewal application.
There was a torrent of complaints from buffalo suppliers to Frigerio Conserva Allana Private Limited, when this correspondent met them on 15 April. The Aligarh-based company is engaged in slaughter and processing of buffalo meat for export. It belongs to Allanasons, a Mumbai-based trader and exporter of coffee, spices, vegetables, fruit juices and soybean oil, which began operations in 1865. It got into buffalo meat exports in 1969. Last year the group exported 4.5 lakh tonnes, says Ayaz Siddiqui, general manager (operations) at the Aligarh plant. That is a little more than a third of India’s 2015-16 buffalo meat exports of 1.3 million tonnes.
Gola Qureshi, a buffalo supplier from Bareilly, said he was parted with Rs 1,000 on the day this correspondent met him by police at Raya railway crossing near Mathura, while transporting animals from Laxminagar penth (weekly market), despite showing them the bill of purchase. The police were aided by four or five vigilantes on bikes, he said. If he did not pay up, the police threatened to take away his animals, 16 of them, worth about Rs 4 lakh to village folk.
Recovering them would have been very difficult.
This story is from the May 2017 edition of Swarajya Mag.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2017 edition of Swarajya Mag.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Hesitant Orbit
In order to march boldly ahead into the deep space, New Delhi must work towards building a station, boost its techno-economic planning and use the Indian Space Research Organisation smartly.
Nudges And Narratives
The debate surrounding Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Padmavati brings India a complex network of portraits within a cultural world-system.
The Spell Of Specialisation
THE INDIAN ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE NEEDS AN URGENT REJIG. THE KEY TO SPEED AND EFFICIENCY LIES IN PUTTING AN END TO A GENERALIST APPROACH AND IN GOING FOR A NEW SERVICE.
The Great Gamble
With demonetisation, the prime minister has taken a huge risk— both economic and political. He must succeed, because this move could transform both our economy and our society.
The Lies And The Truth
The government must be bold enough to up-end the activists who are coming in the way of the nation’s agricultural progress.
Figuring Out China
China’s economic footprint is being followed by its military footprint. To know that is not be belligerent but to prepare oneself adequately.
Management 108
The Upanishads Have A Lot To Teach Today’s Executives When Outcomes Are Unpredictable, Relationships Complex, And Change Is The Name Of The Game.
Sunny Days Ahead
THE NEW GUIDELINES FOR TAXI SERVICES ARE SENSIBLE, RATIONAL, AND MORE THAN WELCOME.
The Cultural World-System
Despite much talk of “soft power”, the fact is that whichever way you slice it, Indian culture fares poorly at seeking or exercising it
The Hard Way Forward
India has been focused on software, but there are large opportunities to be seized in hardware. A primer, and some busting of myths.