PANAJI: Not only will BJP-led government in Goa not join Maharashtra and Haryana in banning beef, an essential part of cuisine of the minority Christian and Muslim communities, but has taken adequate steps to import beef to mitigate any shortage due to the crisis in the state arising out of some NGOs raising a heckle on transportation of bulls, chief minister Laxmikant Parsekar told TOI on Friday.
Parsekar reiterated the state government's stated position that the BJP government will not ban sale of beef in Goa and made it clear he would not follow other states.
The CM said that eating beef is a part of the minority communities' food habit and his government does not want to betray the trust of Christians and Muslims, which BJP took several years to earn in the state.
There has been a shortage in beef supplies in the state after some NGOs blocked transportation of bulls into the state and the government machinery cracking a whip on stalls which were unhygienic and not possessing licences to operate, as reported in TOI.
Parsekar said "beef will continue to be sold in Goa. At present, Goa gets beef supplies from Belgaum in neighbouring Karnataka to overcome the shortage due to closing down of some illegal stalls". The CM said that the state government will monitor the supply of beef to Goa, keeping in mind that beef hygiene is not compromised and Goa's minorities get good quality beef at their door step.
He said that the state-owned Goa meat complex (GMC) is being modernized and as soon as the upgradation is complete, operations will commence.
Recently, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) conducted a special inspection of meat stalls and shops across the state and found 77 shops operating without a food safety licence. Parsekar said that meat stalls have to comply with FDA norms and run their business. "The government cannot exempt beef stalls from obtaining licences," the CM added.
Two weeks ago, traders stopped getting oxen and bulls following monitoring by some NGOs along with the state government. Meat traders alleged that the state government machinery has started harassing meat traders while bringing bulls in the state. Following the trader's decision to stop the meat and bulls import, there was shortage of beef in Goa, as reported by TOI.
Meat complex chairman Lyndon Monteiro said that they are the facilitators to obtain beef from other states to overcome the beef shortage. "Currently, there is no beef shortage in the state," he claimed.
Monteiro said that on Saturday the meat complex will import 10 tonnes of beef from Karnataka for supplies in Goa. He said that the meat complex is ready for slaughtering and as and when traders bring animals, they can start slaughtering.
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