Mutton dealers may support beef dealers’ agitation
Mutton dealers may support beef dealers’ agitation
Mutton dealers in the city are likely to participate in the ongoing strike by beef dealers after the state government banned beef. Mutton dealers’ participation would further raise the price of meat, pinching the common man’s pockets. Mutton dealers’ associations are holding a meeting on Monday to take a final call about the strike. There are over 3,000 mutton shops in the city linked to various associations.
“We are supporting the beef traders who are on strike for 10 days. Though the government has banned beef, our issues were the same. We are against the ban imposed by the government,” said Shahnavaz Thanawala from Mumbai Mutton Dealers Association. “We are holding a meeting of all mutton dealers’ associations and related businesses on whether to participate in the ongoing strike,” he added.
“The ban is affecting us as prices of other meats are going up. We have signed agreements for mutton supply with the government and army canteens on the old rates and not the present rates that are suddenly going up,” Mr Thanawala said.
To a query whether meat prices would rise further if mutton dealers too join the strike, Mr Thanawala said, “There is a possibility that the prices might go up, but we will try it does not cost dear to the people who buy meat from us. Therefore we want to discuss the issue about our business community in detail.”
Mumbai Suburban Beef Dealer Association president Mohammed Qureshi said their strike would go on for more days. The dealers are also mulling whether to go to court against the state government’s decision. “We have appealed to the mutton dealers to participate and support our strike. We have spoken with a few of their associations and they are expected to take a decision in a couple of days,” he said.
The decision to ban beef came earlier this month after the President gave his nod to a bill preventing bull and bullocks from being used for meat. As per the Act, eating beef would be a punishable offence with a fine of Rs 10,000. It also mentions five years imprisonment. The decision has affected over 20,000 members of the Qureshi community associated with the beef business in Maharashtra. The leather industry, farmers, middlemen, slaughterhouse workers and retailers are also affected by the decision.
