The Opposition Congress in Goa has accused the BJP of waging a proxy war against minorities in the State using right wing NGOs to ensure the harassment of minority communities in the State. Addressing a Press conference at the State Congress headquarters on Monday, Congress spokesperson Agnelo Fernandes said that the BJP’s plans were clear case of a conspiracy.
“The BJP Government in Goa is trying to use NGOs to further their cause of stopping cattle slaughter by proxy. All these NGOs who are harassing beef traders are doing it on behalf of the Government, which is being a mute spectator,” Fernandes said hinting that there was enough evidence to suggest that the Government was actively promoting these NGOs on the sly while it kept a straight face. Beef has been off the shelves in Goa for more than a week now following a stand-off between the beef traders and the animal rights NGOs.
The shortage comes at the time of lent, a period of fasting when Christians, who account for 26 per cent of the State’s population, tend to avoid the red meat. Beef is also commonly consumed in the State’s more cosmopolitan tourism-oriented coastal belt. Official estimates suggest that the beef consumption in the State ranges from 30 to 50 tonnes per day.