India: Meat sellers on strike in Uttar Pradesh

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI (AA) - The meat sellers in northern Indian city of Lucknow, state capital of Uttar Pradesh, have gone on an indefinite strike from Saturday to protest against crackdown on illegal slaughter houses.

The government said that only the illegal shops and slaughter houses would have to face action, however, local Muslim community and meat sellers claim that authorities have not spared anyone so far.

The newly appointed chief minister of the state, Yogi Adityanath had made a poll promise to close down all illegal and mechanized slaughter houses in the state after he came to power.

Earlier it was buffalo meat that has vanished from the market, but now even goat meat, chicken, fish and eggs are in short supply in the city.

“We have started indefinite strike from today (Saturday). We don’t know how long it will continue. But government action is adversely affecting our livelihood,” said Abdul Mannan Qureshi, a meat seller in Lucknow.

Muslim religious leaders have advised meat sellers to go for a peaceful protest as they fear backlash from Hindu organizations close to chief minister Yogi Adityanath. Even some non-vegetarian food restaurants and joints remained closed on Saturday because of absence of raw material.