Latest news with #BakrEid
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Pahalgam fallout: Kashmir's demand for goats from Amritsar market falls
1 2 3 Amritsar: The April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam has also delivered a serious blow to the Amritsar 'Bakar Mandi' (goat market), a key supplier of livestock to Kashmir during Bakr Eid (Eid-ul-Zuha). In the wake of the attack, tourists largely stayed away from Kashmir, which dried up the income for local businesses and households. With the region struggling economically, fewer people are purchasing animals for the traditional Eid sacrifice, said Kuldeep, an animal dealer from Nangla village of Fatehabad district of Haryana, on Thursday. He said due to these reasons, the demand from Jammu and Kashmir, which typically drove sales in Amritsar during this season, had fallen, leaving traders with unsold livestock, slashed prices, and little hope of recovery ahead of the festival. Every year, in the weeks leading up to Eid, the Bakar Mandi begins to hum with activity, catering to a robust demand. "This demand, coming from local residents as well as restaurants, hotels, and private buyers during the tourist season in the Valley, has long made the Amritsar livestock market an important part of the region's economy," observed Amanpreet Singh, a local commission agent in the Bakar Mandi. He added the story was in sharp contrast to past years this time. "The festive buzz is missing. Fewer buyers are coming from Kashmir valley, and those who do are looking to bargain hard. With the drop in tourism in Kashmir, income has dried up, and many families are simply opting out of making animal sacrifices this year," he said. He added some wholesalers from Rajasthan had started bypassing Amritsar altogether, taking their stock directly to Jammu and Kashmir in the hope of increasing sales. "But, with the market there also paralysed, the gamble has largely backfired, resulting in further losses and shaking the foundation of a supply chain that existed for decades," he said, adding that traders were selling live animals for around Rs 400 to Rs 450 per kg in the Valley. In the Amritsar market, it is being sold for Rs 600 to Rs 650 per kg, he said. Anees Khan, a trader from Rajasthan, said earlier, the market used to pick up momentum at least 15-20 days before Eid. Livestock would arrive from Rajasthan, and within days, most of it would be sold off largely to Kashmir-based buyers. Amritsar, located strategically between Rajasthan and Kashmir, has long served as a transit point for the livestock trade, he said. A he majority of animals being sold in Bakar Mandi for sacrifice this year are sheep, as goat prices have gone very high. "A goat is not available for anything less than Rs 30,000. Few people are coming to buy goats. Today, I sold one for ₹50,000, but most of the demand is for sheep," said Khan. MSID:: 121648414 413 |
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Muslim groups oppose police action of seizing loudspeakers in mosques
Mumbai: Muslim groups are accusing Mumbai police of excessive action against use of loudspeakers for azaan. After several mosque managements complained about notices and the forcible removal of loudspeakers, community leaders have held a series of meetings in the city. Sakinaka-based Masjid Ajmeri and Madrassa Ali Hassan Ahle Sunnat held a meeting attended by Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad and MLAs Amin Patel and Aslam Shaikh. "The cops cite the Bombay High Court order of January this year to crack down on religious places that violate the decibel limit of noise, but the police are acting selectively. They are removing loudspeakers and threatening to remove them even without verifying if the mosques are adhering to the permitted decibel level," said Sakinaka mosque and madrassa trustee Abul Hasan Khan. The permitted decibel limit is 55 during the daytime and 45 at night. On Thursday, a delegation led by Samajwadi Party state chief and MLA Abu Asim Azmi met police commissioner Deven Bharti and complained about the alleged police harassment. They named BJP functionary and former MP Kirit Somaiya as an instigator. "Mosque trustees complain that Kirit Somaiya puts pressure on police to remove loudspeakers. While we are telling mosques to follow the decibel limit for azaan, a jobless BJP politician is trying to spoil the communal harmony in the city," said Samajwadi Party leader Yusuf Abrahni, who was also part of the delegation that met the commissioner. Bharti told TOI: "Police are acting as per provisions of law and will continue to act accordingly in future." While Bombay High Court said in its judgement that the use of loudspeakers was not an essential part of religion, Muslim groups have cited observations of HCs in Gujarat and MP, which said azaan does not create noise pollution. They argue that azaan lasts for a few minutes in a day, while festivals and celebrations of other faiths are noisier and go on for days. Abrahni said he has called for a meeting of trustees of mosques after Bakr Eid to discuss and will tell them to abide by the decibel limit.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Livestock markets allowed from June 3 to 8 at APMCs
Mumbai: Under criticism for its advisory to the Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) against holding livestock markets between June 3 and June 8 across the state for Bakr Eid, the Maharashtra Gauseva Ayog, a commission for the welfare of cows and their progeny, revoked its May 7 advisory. After animal husbandry officials informed the meeting headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on June 2 that the ban on holding livestock markets between June 3 and 8 was revoked, the commission issued a fresh advisory on June 3, stating only the sale and purchase of cows and their progeny would be banned. "We raised the issue with the CM, citing the law which does not give the commission any rights to issue such an advisory. The animal husbandry department intervened. The commission has the rights to only recommend, not to pass any advisory or order. I am glad now livestock markets will be organised, and animals which are allowed for slaughter (buffaloes, goats, sheep, lambs) can be sold," said Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh. Congress MLA Amin Patel, who also attended Monday's meeting chaired by the CM at Sahyadri Guesthouse, said it was a big relief to animal traders, farmers and the community at large. "Farmers and traders wait for the whole year to get a good price for livestock during Bakr Eid festival. Village markets run by APMCs are where most villagers sell and buy livestock during Bakr Eid, and the advisory had upset many," said Patel, who also suggested the modernisation of the BMC-run Deonar abattoir. Imran Babu Qureshi of All India Jamiatul Quresh said, "Anyway, the slaughter of cows and their progeny is prohibited. Our demand was to lift the ban on holding markets for livestock permitted for slaughter."tnn
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
At CM meet, push for Deonar abattoir upgrade
Mumbai: Five days ahead of Bakr Eid, CM Devendra Fadnavis held a meeting on Monday to review preparations. The need for modernisation of the BMC-run Deonar abattoir, including building permanent sheds, was discussed. "We reiterated our demand to modernise the abattoir. Given the services the abattoir renders and the huge amount govt earns from it, it is desirable that the abattoir is modernised and its infrastructure improved. Everyone agreed that the abattoir should be kept clean and hygienic," said Congress MLA Amin Patel, who was among the attendees. The rush at the abattoir and animal markets across the state is expected to increase in the run-up to Bakr Eid on June 7. Officials were told to be alert and stop anti-social elements from creating trouble. BMC and police officials spoke of the steps being taken to maintain law and order during the festival. "The law and order situation in Maharashtra is always well maintained during festivals. Similarly, for the upcoming Eid, the govt has made proper arrangements. I have instructed all relevant agencies to work in coordination to maintain law and order during this period," Fadnavis said after the meeting. Earlier, Patel, MP and city Congress chief Varsha Gaikwad, MLA Aslam Shaikh and many corporators visited the Deonar abattoir and met officials and animal traders there. There are complaints that vehicles carrying goats, sheep and buffaloes are made to wait for long outside the gate before being allowed entry. tnn
