Expressing concern over the crackdown on abattoirs in Uttar Pradesh (UP), the Opposition on Friday in the Rajya Sabha said this step amounted to denying fundamental right to make a living and what to eat. The Government assured the members that only illegal slaughter houses were closed down as they are a hazard for the health and environment.
Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Mohammad Nadimul Haq (TMC) said nearly 20 lakh people were engaged in meat trade and most of them belonged to weaker sections of society for genertions. With the closure of slaughter houses, many of them were rendered jobless, he said adding this ‘arbitrary action’ was in violation of the fundamental right to earn a living.
Claiming that the meat trade was worth over Rs 15,000 crore, closure of shops in UP had affected trade in Jharkhand too forcing the owners and employees to resort to indefinite strike. Terming the closure as ‘drastic,’ Haq said it appeared to be ‘one-sided’ and the clampdown was an affront to the right to earn a living of one’s choice. He also said the closure of meat shops will affect 14 per cent of GDP of UP adding “What food to eat and what to do for a living should not be dictated and if care is not taken, there was a danger of a police state.” The entire Opposition backed his contention.
Allaying the apprehensions, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said while the illegal slaughter houses will not be spared, the genuine ones will not be touched.