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Indian Express
10-08-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Cattle markets at a standstill, farmers leaving animals on road: The fallout from Maharashtra butchers' strike over cow vigilantism
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar earlier this week instructed the police to prevent cow vigilantes from boarding or inspecting vehicles transporting animals. This directive comes in response to the ongoing strike by the Qureshi community, which has been protesting since July 22 against what they describe as an increase in harassment by cow vigilantes. With over 10 lakh butchers from the Qureshi community in Maharashtra going on strike, cattle markets in Akluj and Sangola taluka of Solapur district have virtually stopped operations. It, in turn, has impacted farmers who have now started leaving their unproductive animals loose across the countryside. Afsar Qureshi, member of the All India Jamiatul Quresh and the union of cattle traders, said their decision to stop trade was taken in the face of increased cow vigilantism. 'Even with proper documentation, we face violence from self-declared cow vigilantes. There is no protection for us who are carrying out trade in the legal manner,' he said. Quershi said the local police, at times, apply stringent sections of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999. 'Bribes are asked of us for freeing animals despite the court's ruling in our favour,' he said. Afsar said when their members transport animals, the vigilantes stop vehicles on highways. 'Even if we have proper papers, they confiscate our animals. Our vehicles are damaged intentionally,' he said. The Qureshi community, Afsar said, is spread across the state with a population of over 25 lakh , with a sizable portion of them being involved in the trade of cattle and meat. Since 2015, when the Devendra Fadnavis-led BJP-Shiv Sena government amended the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, to ban the slaughter of cow progeny, the trade in oxen and barren animals has completely collapsed, he said. Afsar noted that this single action has put over 5 lakh traditional butchers out of business. He said cattle traders are easy targets for many. 'When we are transporting the animals, many cow vigilantes frame us in false cases. They impound our vehicles and take away our animals. By the time we get court orders, we have lost business,' he said. Afsar said that while the Constitution has assured the right to livelihood, in the present environment, they are not allowed to practice the same. Senior cabinet leaders have called for action against cattle traders. Afsar said almost everyone associated with the cattle trade is targeted because of their religion, with little support from anyone. Currently, this strike has severely impacted the operations of cattle markets that handle animals for slaughter. In the cattle market located in Akluj taluka of Solapur, farmers would typically bring their non-productive male buffaloes for sale every Monday. Rajendra Kakade, secretary of the market, said the market saw business of around Rs 50 lakh on Mondays. 'Around 400-500 animals are sold with traders coming from every corner of the state,' he said. The market has completely shut down since the strike, leaving many farmers with no choice but to leave their animals on the roads. Similarly, the market in Sangola, located in the Solapur district, has also seen all activities come to a standstill. 'We hope for a quick resolution to the matter,' said Kakade. Partha Sarathi Biwas is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express with 10+ years of experience in reporting on Agriculture, Commodities and Developmental issues. He has been with The Indian Express since 2011 and earlier worked with DNA. Partha's report about Farmers Producer Companies (FPC) as well long pieces on various agricultural issues have been cited by various academic publications including those published by the Government of India. He is often invited as a visiting faculty to various schools of journalism to talk about development journalism and rural reporting. In his spare time Partha trains for marathons and has participated in multiple marathons and half marathons. ... Read More
The Print
26-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Maharashtra's cattle trade comes to near standstill as traders allege ‘free rein' to gau rakshaks
But it has been getting worse with each passing year, especially during Bakra-Eid, they say. Shaikh comes from the Qureshi community. An estimated 2 lakh members of the community, who are part of the cattle trade in Maharashtra, have been on a strike since the start of July to protest harassment by cow vigilantes. The harassment, which can easily spiral into physical assault, has become a part and parcel of their profession over the past decade, since the passage of Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 2015. Mumbai: Hamid Shaikh is a licensed cattle trader and was on his way to sell a buffalo and three bulls. It would fetch him Rs 1.5 lakh, he hoped. But the 55-year-old returned home with bruises all over his body, no livestock and no money. 'Cow vigilantes stopped our truck and said we were taking these animals for slaughter which was not the case,' Shaikh told ThePrint about the incident from about three weeks ago. For instance, in Hamid Shaikh's case, he said he 'bought them (livestock) from Pachod (near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) market a few days ago and was taking them to Ch. Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad) market for selling them'. 'I have all proper documentation for animals. Despite that, they took away my animals. They slapped me twice. I told them to not hit me since I had a bypass (surgery), but they still hit me. I was scared,' he added. Imran Babu Qureshi, national vice-president of All India Jamaitul Qureshi, told ThePrint that members of the community decided to go on strike 'because there is no response' from either the state government or police. 'There is an increase in incidents of cow vigilantes hitting our drivers, traders. That is the reason we have called this bandh.' In March 2015, the BJP-Shiv Sena government led by Devendra Fadnavis banned sale, possession and consumption of beef by amending the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, which allowed slaughter of old bulls and bullocks with permission from civic authorities. The amendment brought about a complete ban on slaughter of cows and their progeny, bulls and bullocks. It allowed slaughter of buffaloes subject to certain conditions. On 15 July this year, the All India Jamiatul Quresh (AIJQ), a union of cattle traders, met Maharashtra Minister of State (MoS) for Home Yogesh Kadam as well as Director-General of Police (DGP) Rashmi Shukla with a letter, seeking protection from gau rakshaks. They sent another letter on 24 July, demanding the police issue directions/orders as assured to them to make sure cattle traders are not harassed by cow vigilantes. 'We would also like to state that due to pressure of such unauthorized persons/vigilantes, the concerned police officers in various villages, tehsils and districts in the state are pressured to proceed to seize such transport vehicles and animals which otherwise are permitted to be transported. This creates further harassment and troubles on the transporter and the trader,' the Maharashtra AIJQ president wrote in this letter. Members of the Qureshi community are now planning to meet again next week to decide on a plan of action. When contacted, Yogesh Kadam confirmed to ThePrint that he met AIJQ representatives and told ThePrint that there are always two sides to a story. The minister said he had already assured action against those harassing cattle traders. 'During our meeting, I told them to follow all the rules required to conduct their business as many times the transporters do not have requisite documents. At the same time, I have assured action against those who were harassing them and also asked to share their details. I have not received any information from them yet,' Kadam told ThePrint. On 14 July, MoS Home (Rural) Prakash Bhoyar told the Legislative Council that the state government was thinking of bringing in a new law against beef smuggling and also planning to withdraw cases against gau rakshaks by way of a new law to protect cow progeny. Also Read: Fodder for thought: Modi govt's cow welfare agency has been headless for 4 yrs, Rs 500 cr lying idle 'Will die of hunger' In Maharashtra, the slaughter of bovine is prohibited, and a certificate from a veterinary is required to slaughter buffaloes. This certificate needs to specifically mention that the buffalo is 'unfit' for milking and is not pregnant. Most of the 292 livestock markets in Maharashtra are now closed, barring some in Pune and Mumbai. These attract those who want to sell or buy animals for slaughter, and also farmers and traders who want to buy or sell animals either for farming or dairy businesses. The state government last year gave 'Rajyamata' status to cows and also approved the animal husbandry department's proposal to provide Rs 50 daily subsidy per animal to cow shelter operators. Members of the Qureshi community ThePrint spoke to say approximately 300-500 animals are traded at every market, each costing anywhere between Rs 10,000 to over a lakh, depending on the size, age and the fitness of the animal. They add that harassment of cattle traders at the hands of cow vigilantes has been steadily rising since the passage of the 2015 legislation. 'There is a lot of hooliganism in the name of gau raksha in the state. The police are not cooperating with us. We are all very scared. Markets used to be full of animals but everything is closed now. We are suffering huge economic losses as well,' said Aziz Qureshi, Nanded district coordinator, AIJQ. 'About 50,000 people from our community are in this trade in the entire district. They are saying we will die of hunger but think twice before going back into the trade,' he added. Community members said the bandh started about a month ago with the Nagpur market and slowly spread across the state. They also alleged that while police do not register their complaints, FIRs are filed against members of the Qureshi community instead. Asked to comment on these allegations, minister Kadam said, 'I told them to tell me which particular area they are facing issues with. Won't be happening all over Maharashtra. So they need to give me a particular area or organisation troubling them. I will make sure that I tell the police to act accordingly. But except for the letter, I haven't received any official complaint. If need be, we will talk to them again.' The Qureshi community is demanding strict action against vigilantes/extortionists and proper implementation of the provisions of sections 6 and 8 of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976, and the Transport of Animal Rules, 1978. Another allegation is that the animals gau rakshaks confiscate are taken to 'gaushalas' (cow shelters) operated by the government. Cattle trader Moinuddin Qureshi alleged his truck containing seven buffaloes was taken away by gau rakshaks on 6 June and an FIR was registered against him and the truck driver. ThePrint has seen a copy of the FIR. The animals were later sent to a gaushala while the police investigated the matter and found nothing suspicious, he said. According to Moinuddin, the police then wrote to the gaushala saying that 'during the investigation, we found that Qureshi has all the documentation including fitness certificate for the buffaloes' and that the complaint was made out of a 'misunderstanding'. ThePrint has seen a copy of the letter. However, Moinuddin is yet to get his livestock back. 'In fact, now the gaushala has gone to local court against us and refusing to give us our animals … Everything is legal, we have the documents but only because of our religion, we are being harassed.' Other cattle traders too said once the animals are sent to the local gaushala, it is very difficult to recover them. 'Behind every animal, the government gives a certain amount for nourishment of these animals at the gaushalas. But when our farmers and traders are trying to get back the animals from gaushalas, they are not there. So where did our animals go? Where are they taking them?' asked AIJQ acting president Javed Qureshi. Shaikh agreed. He was told his animals were taken to Badnapur gaushala. 'But even two days back when I went there, I did not see my animals there. Don't know where they are. I might never get them back now.' (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: BJP's 'cow protection brigade' gets official stamp in new animal husbandry ministry
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
MLA Jagtap's communal remarks against NCP ideology, says Ajit Pawar
Pune: Deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has criticised his party MLA Sangram Jagtap for his controversial statements against the Muslim community and said these are against NCP's ideology. "NCP follows a secular ideology, and we will never compromise on it. I will personally speak to Jagtap on this matter," the NCP chief said after chairing a meeting of the party MLAs in Mumbai on Wednesday. Jagtap represents Ahmednagar City constituency and is considered close to Pawar. Recently, videos of his incendiary remarks surfaced on social media. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Taking objection, NCP state vice president Saleem Sarang wrote a letter to Pawar. "NCP has been following the secular ideology of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Jyotiba Phule, and Babasaheb Ambedkar. The party has always taken people from all communities and religions along in its progress. However, Sangram Jagtap is constantly making anti-Muslim statements, which is unnecessarily creating a rift between two communities," the letter said. Sarang told reporters on Wednesday that he had requested Pawar and state party president Sunil Tatkare to reprimand Jagtap and ensure that he does not continue his communal agenda for personal gain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like One of the Most Successful Investors of All Time, Warren Buffett, Recommends: 5 Books for Turning... Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Click Here Undo "Otherwise, the Muslim community will go away from the party," he said. Responding to the complaint letter, Jagtap on Thursday said this is the party's internal matter. "I will soon meet our party chief to explain my position." About whey he missed the Mumbai meeting, Jagtap said, "Since the warkaris were in Ahilyanagar, I stayed back to welcome them, as per tradition." Even after joining the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, NCP always maintained that they did not compromise on secular ideology.
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Vidarbha Mukti Morcha's two-day dharna in Chanda for statehood
Chandrapur: The Vidarbha Mukti Morcha and its youth wing, Vidarbha Mukti Yuva Morcha, will hold a two-day dharna (sit-in agitation) on June 9 and 10 at the statue of barrister Rajabhau Khobragade, here, to press for the long-pending demand of a separate Vidarbha state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The announcement was made by Vidarbha Mukti Morcha leader Kishore Potonwar during a press conference. Potonwar recalled that a resolution in support of a separate Vidarbha was unanimously passed during the BJP's national convention held in Bhubaneswar in 1997. At the time, several senior BJP leaders from Vidarbha, along with Jambuwantrao Dhote, had taken to the streets. The BJP had promised that it would create a separate Vidarbha state once it comes to power. However, that promise remains unfulfilled, and the BJP has kept silent on the issue. He added that even though leaders like Jambuwantrao Dhote, Rajesaheb Vishweshwar Rao Maharaj, TG Deshmukh, Tirpude, and Biyani are no more, the struggle for Vidarbha continues. Potonwar alleged that the BJP-Shiv Sena government in Maharashtra deliberately sidelined the Vidarbha statehood issue by projecting Shiv Sena at the forefront. He further noted that the Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti had staged a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar and submitted memorandums to Members of Parliament. While BJP facilitated the creation of three new states — Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand — it treated the Vidarbha issue differently from Telangana. Later, Congress carved Telangana out of Andhra Pradesh, but ignored Vidarbha's demand. "There is growing unrest among unemployed youth, farmers, workers, and government employees who can no longer bear the injustice inflicted upon Vidarbha. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now People are preparing for a decisive struggle to save their resources — Surjagad and Manikgarh mines, the rivers Wainganga and Painganga, and the lifeline Godavari," he said. Potonwar called upon to the youth of Vidarbha to join the movement, stating that a separate Vidarbha would pave the way for employment opportunities for educated youth, industrial growth, affordable access to coal, water, and electricity, and an end to load-shedding. He asserted that self-reliance will reduce farmer suicides, and once Nagpur becomes the capital, tribal communities will save on travel expenses and access justice more easily. He also remarked that the EVM machines will be "shut down," hinting at systemic change. Dr Tirumal Mujam, Sunil Junghare, Adv Vilas Mathankar, and Dheeraj Chikte were also present during the press conference.
