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A demand for national meat sale calendar amid non-veg row in Maharashtra

A demand for national meat sale calendar amid non-veg row in Maharashtra

India Today3 days ago
Amid the row over meat bans in multiple cities, the Poultry Federation of India (PFI) has written to the Union Minister, proposing a national-level meat sales calendar, akin to that of teh dry-day canders. The federation said such a measure would help resolve disputes over meat sales during religious festivals and prevent financial losses for businesses.The letter to Union Minister SP Singh Baghel comes amid renewed controversy in Maharashtra over civic bodies ordering the closure of slaughterhouses and meat shops on Independence Day, triggering a major political row.advertisementTraditionally, meat sales are banned in several cities on festivals such as Ram Navami, Maha Shivratri, Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), and Valmiki Jayanti.
In its letter, the federation pointed out that the arbitrary and often last-minute nature of these bans makes it difficult for businesses to plan and manage their operations.They highlighted the hardship faced by the lakhs of people associated with the meat industry, from daily wage labourers to business owners, whose livelihoods are directly impacted by these closures.The Poultry Federation president Ranpal Dhanda further demanded that information about the closure of meat shops be provided at least three months in advance, with public notices issued in the affected areas.It also sought the inclusion of a PFI representative in the committee responsible for such decisions, and suggested that sale bans be imposed only around temples during the month of Sawan.MEAT BAN ROW IN MAHARASHTRAAt least five civic bodies in Maharashtra have ordered meat shops to remain shut on August 15. Opposition parties, and even the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which is part of the government, have questioned the ban, while the ruling BJP has defended it, citing a 1988 state government order that empowers these bodies to impose such restrictions.- EndsInputs by Nasir HussainMust Watch
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