BJP Govt Assures There's No Shortage Of Beef In Goa, Will Import Meat From Karnataka If Needed

At a time when the BJP is not so secretly trying to ban cattle slaughter and beef consumption across the country, high profile leader has put the party in a fix. Former Defence Minister and current Goa Chief Minister told the Assembly on Tuesday that there is no shortage of the red meat in the state.

AFP/ File

Parrikar told the House that around 2,000 kg of beef, is slaughtered daily at the state's only legal abattoir, the Goa Meat Complex, at Ponda, around 40 km from state Capital Panaji.

The rest of the meat is met by Karnataka," said Parrikar, adding that "The government does not have any intention to restrict bringing animals for slaughter at the Goa Meat Complex from the neighbouring state."

PTI

Citing increase in demand for the red meat on popular holidays, Parrikar said, "We have not closed the option to stop getting meat from Belgaum (in Karnataka) to ensure that there is no shortage. I can assure you that inspection of beef from neighbouring stage will be done by a proper medical doctor those who are authorised to do it, rather than by others."

Though the CM's comments were reassuring to the beef-eaters in Goa, opposition parties including the Congress were soon to point out BJP's hypocrisy when it comes to beef.

¡°BJP CM of Goa saying there won¡¯t be a shortage of beef in the state is hilarious and ironical,¡± Congress MP Rajiv Shukla said.

Goa, which has a sizeable beef-consuming population has always been at odds with the BJP's declared policy of a nationwide ban on cattle slaughter and beef consumption.

Even while the BJP was enforcing the ban in other states, the Goa state BJP unit had made it clear that the consumption of beef will not be banned in the state as it is an integral part of the local culinary habits.

BCCL/ File

It is not just in Goa, the BJP has taken a different position from it declared line, when it comes to beef.

In other beef-eating states like Kerala and north east to the BJP was not against people consuming the red meat.

In fact, in a recent by-election to the Lok Sabha in Kerala, the BJP candidate ran on the promise of ensuring supply of quality beef in the constituency.

In poll-bound Meghalaya too, a local BJP leader had promised to reduce the price of Beef if the party was elected. He later quit the BJP over the controversial cattle sales restriction order which effectively banned the sale of animals for slaughter.