BELAGAVI
As Goa struggles for beef supplies after Karnataka Assembly passed the Karnataka Prevention of Slaughter and Preservation of Cattle Bill-2020, suppliers from Belagavi district, one of the major suppliers of beef to Goa too are in a jeopardy.
However, the bill is yet to become law as it still has to be passed in the Legislative Council, the upper house of the State Legislature, after which it will go for ratification to the governor.
However, officials of the animal husbandry department have been reluctant to certify the beef sent to Goa, claimed traders in Belagavi.
Several tonnes of beef are usually supplied from Belagavi and north Karnataka region to different markets in Goa on a daily basis and beef suppliers in the district said Karnataka’s decision to push for a law prohibiting cow slaughter has affected them a lot.
“Officials are not ready to issue a hygiene and fitness certificate, which is mandatory before sending the beef to Goa. We are waiting for the Karnataka government’s decision over the anti-cow slaughter law,” a trader told The Goan.
Added another leading beef supplier: “Though the BJP managed to pass the bill in the Assembly where it has a majority, we need to wait and watch whether the bill is passed in the Legislative Council, which is the upper house of the State Legislature. It then has to be ratified by the governor.”
Beef suppliers from Karnataka are waiting for the government’s decision of passing the bill while a stalemate prevailed in the upper house on Tuesday as Congress and the JD (S) are strongly opposing the bill.
Currently, the ruling BJP is the single largest party in the Council with 31 members, followed by Congress with 29 including the chairman. The JD(S) has 4 members and there is one independent.
The Karnataka Legislative Council on Tuesday witnessed high drama with members hurling abuses and pushing each other, while the deputy chairperson was pulled down from the chairperson’s seat.
