SHILLONG, May 8: The Khasi Jaintia Butchers’ Association (KJBA) suspected that the state government is indirectly supporting the BJP’s agenda by not finding a solution to the crisis of beef.
“By doing nothing to solve this problem, the state government is helping the BJP to fulfil its agenda of banning the consumption of beef,” KJBA general secretary, Generous Warlarpih alleged.
He said the people doing this business are helpless since everything will come to a standstill if the situation does not improve soon. He said many people have already lost their job while many others will meet a similar fate as the butchers have been forced to leave this business due to scarcity of cattle.
Warlarpih said the state government launched aquaculture and piggery missions to increase fish and pork productions but it is yet to come up with a similar policy to encourage cattle farming.
According to him, the state cannot continue to depend on imported cattle as most BJP-ruled states have banned the consumption of beef.
“It is important that we are self-sufficient. We urge the state to initiate a policy on a mission mode to encourage farmers to take up cattle farming for slaughter,” the KJBA general secretary said.
He said the consumers are blaming the butchers for the hike in price of beef without being aware of the ground realities. He said most farmers in the state rear cattle for dairying or for bull fight.
“We are forced to buy cattle from the local farmers at a higher price since these are not meant for slaughter. As such, we are left with no option but to increase the price of beef,” Warlarpih said.
Beef is currently sold at Rs 550-600 a kg in the state.
Earlier, the KJBA claimed the transportation of cattle to Meghalaya from outside the state had totally stopped, resulting in an acute shortage of beef.
The association had said ever since the enforcement of the Assam Cattle Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2021, the Assam government has not been allowing the entry of cattle into the state.
Warlarpih had dismissed the state government’s claim that it is issuing challans to the local meat traders.
“We are now planning to demand from the state government to stop issuing challans. What is the use of issuing the challans when we are not getting these?” he had said.
The government is maintaining a stony silence on the issue.
