PANAJI
Representatives of Quraishi's Meat Traders Association of Goa on Saturday decided to keep beef shops across the State shut until their issues are resolved.
Manna Bepari, president of Quraishi's Meat Traders Association of Goa, speaking after their meeting held at Panaji municipal market said, "From today (January 6), beef shops in Goa will remain shut indefinitely until the State government resolves our issues. We met Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar and have apprised him of the situation. CM has assured us that he will sit with police officers after two days and will solve our problem."
In the last 10 days, there were two instances, wherein police seized illegally transported beef. But, the meat traders maintain that the issue is something else.
Anwar Bepari, general secretary, of the Association said, "It is the animal rights activists, who have caused this problem. They complain that we are illegally transporting beef, while we carry all the documents when doing our business. The activists pour phenol on the beef due to which it can't be consumed. In the last two instances when police seized beef, we lost Rs 4 to 5 lakh worth of beef. Since beef is getting seized, Karnataka suppliers are also refusing to supply beef to us. Therefore, our shops have to remain shut."
Manna Bepari added, "Goa's daily demand of beef stands at 20 tonnes. Considering this, the state government should solve our issues as soon as possible."
The other issue is that Goa Meat Complex is dysfunctional since October last year. Due to this, meat traders have to source already cut beef from Karnataka. Quraishi's Meat Traders Association made a mention of this problem in their letter to Parrikar by saying, "Meat Complex is presently dysfunctional and hence there is no other avenue to source our supplies."
Had GMC been functioning, the meat traders could have brought live cattle from Karnataka for slaughter to Goa and then such issues probably wouldn't have cropped up.
The Association's letter further states, "Several first Holy Communion parties scheduled for Sunday (January 7) will not have beef on the menu because of this intimidation (by animal rights activists) for which we have to halt our business."
There are around 100 beef shops in Goa and all set to lose business as long as the shops remain shut.
