Last week Goa was drawn into a war of tweets and words over beef consumption as the issue continued to simmer in an increasingly vitiated atmosphere. Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s statement where he was quoted saying that Muslims would have to give up eating beef if they wished to stay in India was followed by a riposte from former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdulla, who sought to know that if beef consuming Muslims would be sent to Pakistan, where would beef consuming Christians be sent to?
The Indian Express asked Goa Chief Minister for his comment and his reply was responsible. “I don’t feel the people of a community eat or use beef to hurt the sentiments of others. It is part of their cuisine or preparation and we also accept the fact," he was quoted saying. There can be no controversy created in Goa on the issue of beef consumption, he added, saying that Goa’s speciality was that its Hindus, Catholics and Muslims lived together in harmony and peace, where people knew the importance of respecting each others feelings. Unlike other states, such issues were never blown out of proportion here, the chief minister added.
Just weeks earlier, immediately after the horrendous Dadri lynching, former chief minister Manohar Parrikar sought to distance the RSS from the incident. He had said issues of beef consumption were matters of individual opinion and government could not take a position on a consumption ban based on the opinions of one group (asking for a ban).
The Goa government’s stated opinion is that some 39-40 per cent of its population consumes the item. Yet cattle protection organisations in the saffron parivar in Goa have made it amply clear that beef eating should be discouraged, vegetarianism should be encouraged and that they want a national law and a constitutional change to prevent cattle slaughter and consumption.
Political scientist Yogendra Yadav of the Swaraj Abhiyan made an interesting comment recently. He supported the recent consultation that the BJP had with RSS functionaries saying that any political party was within its right to refer to organisations it is ideologically affiliated to.
What should be interesting for political watchers in Goa is how the BJP negotiates between the demands of its ideological moorings, its temporary electoral compulsion of taking at least a section of Christians along with it, to make up the crucial power arithmetic; and the challenges of being administrator in a democratic, secular set up.
The clarifications on the beef consumption issue are straight forward. There are those who would suggest, that unlike elsewhere in the country, Goa’s liberal, cosmopolitan ethos would render highly unpopular and counter-productive, any attempts to place dietary restrictions based on religious sentiments. The reality is not quite so clear cut and utopian. Tolerance is a slippery slope and is sorely tested in times of economic advancement, and increased competition. Communalism becomes a vehicle for unfair, unequal access to power, resources, jobs, economic advantage and electoral victory. For now, elections is a numbers game and the 2017 polls are not too far away. At 27 per cent of the population, Christians are still significant players electorally. All political parties recognise that, including the ruling one.
Contrast this, with the approach towards Muslims who number 6-8 pr cent of the population. Political commentator, advocate Cleofato Coutinho agrees that the Muslims have found themselves targeted emotionally and economically. Each Bakri Eid is an occasion rife with tension. Coinciding with the growth of ultra right extremist organisations in Ponda, and post the Curchorem riots, the polarisation against Muslims has been proceeding steadily, assisted by the police and media feeds, and almost completely ignored by most of Goa’s liberals and organisations for justice and peace. The polarisation against Christians is more covert, visible on social media and in the regional language newspapers of the ultra right.
Cattle protection organisations, assisted by associates in animal rights groups, have used the Goa laws that prevent non“certified slaughter in non-designated places, to practically stop all cattle slaughter in the state. The state is currently importing beef. To meet the stringent conditions of the Act and of subsequent court orders, the abattoir has been shut down to modernise, but there is still a question mark over its resumption, though it is expected to officially open in December.
Beef ban proponents have used multiple strategies in Goa. Some would argue, these found tacit support from the administration, in its bid to balance contradictory positions. The strike by meat traders earlier this year, was called over the reported constant objections that were being raised by NGOs, both at the abattoir and during transportation from neighbouring states, where traders say they incurred heavy losses when consignments were deliberately contaminated with phenyl and /or confiscated. The case filed against the abattoir by cattle protection organisations in 2013, for strict implementation of process, is still pending before the court.
For the moment, Goa is set apart from the acrimony that surrounds the issue elsewhere. But will is sustain?
Pamela D'Mello is an independent journalist
