Lucknow's Iconic Tunday Kababi Runs Dry As Yogi Adityanath's 'War On Meat Shops' Intensifies

In less than 48 hours after the UP government's crackdown on what they termed as 'illegal slaughter houses' dozens of shops across the state have been raided or sealed by the authorities.

This has left some of Lucknow's most famous food joints in the lurch as they are struggling to keep their business running.

BCCL/ File

One of them is the Tunday Kababi, the nearly a ?century-old eatery was shut on Wednesday as they could not procure buffalo meat, an integral part of their menu.

The shop was open for business on Thursday, but with no buffalo meat on the menu. The slimmed down menu had only chicken and mutton items.?

Speaking to Indiatimes, Abu Bakar, who runs the Tunday Kababi outlet in Akbari Gate, Lucknow said that they were forced to take the most popular item off the menu as buffalo meat has become unavailable in Lucknow.

BCCL/ File

This, however, had left a dent in their business. ?

He said, in the entire area, which is known for its eateries, the only those shops which sell chicken and mutton products are up, while others are shut.

Abu Bakar said he is concerned about the business.

"In just one day our business was affected so badly. I don't know what lies ahead, only God know what is going to happen."?

Tunday Kababi had four slaughterhouses of their own which were closed down in the past.?

Since then they have been depending on various slaughterhouses in the city for meat supply, which has now stopped.

The BJP which won a landslide victory in the assembly election had throughout the campaign promised to shut all slaughterhouses in the state if they come to power.

AFP

Yogi Adityanath, a known animal lover did not waste any time in making good on the promise, ordering a crackdown on slaughterhouses and cow trafficking.

The move, if implemented as promised by the BJP, would not just affect the livelihood of thousands who depend on the industry, but also will cause the state's exchequer dearly.?

This is because a large chunk of the Rs.26,682 crore in 2015-16 India earned from exporting the?buffallow meat came from UP.?

Uttar Pradesh accounts for the highest share of buffalo population at 28% and is the leading meat producing state. The state houses around 60% of the total standalone slaughterhouses, standalone meat processing units and fully-integrated meat processing units in India. ?