Former Congress Chief Minister Francisco Sardinha has alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party is funding cow vigilantes with the aim of creating artificial scarcity of beef in the state which would eventually make the delicacy inaccessible to the poorer sections and minorities.
Speaking at Congress House, a combative Sardinha stated, "Beef is a staple diet of minorities, many other Goans and 50 per cent tourists. The ongoing incidents are a way of creating scarcity and allowing prices to go up.
Refuting allegations that beef traders are operating sans licenses, Sardinha claimed that the importers had licenses and that the beef which was being transported was certified by veterinary doctors. "Government should have done some homework first. I want to warn this government. See that beef is available or we will take action," he warned.
The senior political leader sought to recall that the state-run abattoir was set up during his tenure as the minister for animal husbandry. He said, "Crores of rupees were spent. Why is the abattoir not functioning? Instead we are importing beef. Even if you import beef, animals from other states, what about the animals from Goa. The government is encouraging illegal slaughter." The former CM also questioned the legitimacy of the NGOs functioning as vigilantes to stop the transport of beef in Goa. "Though many NGOs work sincerely, most are for extraction, blackmail and making money. Why cow vigilantes, there are no police? Can they ever ban beef in Goa? We don't need the government's certificate to eat beef," Sardinha roared.
Congress principal general secretary Altinho Gomes highlighted the state government's failure to take appropriate action against those who have previously attempted to vitiate the atmosphere in Goa in the name of beef. "The government should take immediate legal and police action against all such individuals who question our eating habits. We cannot be made to feel like outsiders in our own state," Gomes argued.
Will raise beef issue in Cabinet: Vijai
MARGAO: Town and Country Planning Minister Vijai Sardesai disagrees with the government view that beef supplies have stopped in the state because these were carried out illegally, saying the question before the people of Goa is not the issue of legal or illegal, but of availability.
Promising to raise the issue at the Cabinet meeting scheduled on Wednesday, the TCP Minster said the government has to intervene since the absence of beef has affected a large section of Goans, whose staple diet is beef. "I do not agree with the government view that the supplies have stopped because beef was being brought illegally and whether it has got anything to do with the forthcoming elections in Karnataka. All I want to say that the government should make a provision to make available beef, whether legally or not," he asserted.
