CM Mamata Banerjee slams UP government for meat crisis

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday expressed her concern regarding the indefinite strike by meat sellers, especially mutton vendors, in Uttar Pradesh who have started protesting against the statewide crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses by the UP government.

In a series of tweets, Ms Banerjee slammed the BJP government in UP and said that the slogan, “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas”, should not remain a slogan, but should be implemented at the ground level. “We are all one. ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas sirf bolna nahi hain, karna hain. We have to do it, to make it meaningful,” she tweeted. Calling for communal harmony, the chief minister further tweeted, “A govt has to be for all. We need to safeguard our Constitution and allow it to guide.”

While addressing a rally at the Jalpaiguri sports complex later in the afternoon, Ms Banerjee said that she considers herself an embodiment of all religions, and does not discriminate over caste, creed or religion.“Bengal is a place for everybody from every religion. Hindus, Muslims, Christians, tribals, Hindi-speaking and Urdu-speaking people live here... Do not fall prey to any kind of communal instigation,” she said.

She held herself up as an example, saying that she performs Durga Puja, attends Iftar parties and midnight mass during Christmas. “I perform Durga Puja. I do participate in Roza. If somebody asks me not to go to Gurudwara, I will not do so. And I will not listen to anybody asking me not to go to a church... I will instead go there thousand times,” she said.

She also said that she did not have faith in a religion which does not endorse love among people. “I have faith in that religion which teaches people to love each other,” the chief minister said.

At an adminstrative meeting in Jalpaiguri, Ms Banerjee expressed concern over alleged child trafficking rackets running in Jalpaiguri and North Bengal and directed her senior administrative officials to keep a strict vigil on homes from where babies are sold to customers through questionable adoption deals.

“The police and the block development officers have to take responsibility to thoroughly monitor the issue of child trafficking in the state. Whoever is involved in trafficking should not be spared,” she said.