5 days ago
Disturbing rise in mob attacks on pretext of enforcing animal protection laws, says Qureshi community leader amid cattle trade strike
For over a month, Maharashtra's Qureshi community has been on strike, suspending all cattle trade across the state. Their protest, they say, is not against the law banning cow slaughter, but against rising harassment, vigilante attacks, and what they claim is targeted disruption of even lawful business activities.
Mohammad Ali Qureshi, president of the Bombay Suburban Beef Dealers Association, speaks to Zeeshan Shaikh about the reasons behind the community's ongoing protest, the challenges they face, and what they expect from the government. Excerpts from an interview.
Q. What are the main reasons for the community to protest?
Mohammad Ali Qureshi: It has been a decade now since the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, was implemented in March 2015, which bans the slaughter and consumption of meat of cows, bulls, and bullocks in Maharashtra. This law severely impacted the functioning of the state's Qureshi community, which was involved in the beef trade.
While the community has adhered to the new rules over the past few years, there has been a sustained campaign to run aground even lawful cattle trade and slaughterhouse operations. The law does not prohibit the sale or slaughter of water buffaloes, but even this is being targeted. A sustained campaign has been undertaken to bring down the business of the Qureshi community. That is why the community is protesting.
Q. How is the beef trade going on in the state in spite of the law, and which specific government actions or policies do you believe are affecting your community's livelihood?
Mohammad Ali Qureshi: When I say beef trade, I mean the sale and slaughter of water buffalo. This is completely legal as per the rules of the land. What is happening now is a disturbing rise in incidents involving harassment, violence, and mob attacks perpetrated by self-styled vigilante groups operating on the pretext of enforcing animal protection laws. They are targeting even the trade of water buffalo, which is legal.
These groups operate under the aegis of Gau Raksha Samitis, which have proliferated quite a bit over the last few years. They unlawfully intercept vehicles ferrying cattle, snatch livestock, assault traders, and forcibly seize animals without any legal authority. In several regions, such actions have escalated to mob lynching, creating an atmosphere of fear, insecurity, and severe disruption of the livelihoods of lawful cattle traders and transporters.
Q. Do you feel that the recent enforcement under the cow slaughter law is discriminatory or selectively applied? If so, can you give examples?
Mohammad Ali Qureshi: The Qureshis only undertake the trade of bovines which are legal in the state. Trade is not a one-off thing; you need both a buyer and a seller. It is the farmers who come to the markets to sell their animals. Interestingly, the farmers who sell are not targeted. Once a member of the Qureshi community purchases the animal, the harassment starts.
The law is stacked against us at so many levels. Animals lawfully owned and transported by traders are being seized and handed over to Gaushalas, and then treated as forfeited in compliance with the disputed provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rules, 2017.
Animals can be seized for the flimsiest of reasons, including inadequate rest during transit. If a vehicle is found overloaded, a breach of rules that many transporters commit, the entire lot is seized. These animals are then handed to Gaushalas. Vehicles are unlawfully detained as security to compel payment of animal maintenance charges.
Exorbitant fees are imposed on owners as a precondition for the release of vehicles, even before any guilt is legally established. This is unfair. Moreover, while the police should be the ones checking if any illegality is being undertaken by traders, in reality, we have vigilante groups running riot and extorting money from traders without fear of repercussions.
Q. How long do you plan to carry on with this strike, and how many people are affected by it?
Mohammad Ali Qureshi: This is a trade that has been going on for centuries, and thousands of families are dependent on it. The entire business has come to a standstill, and people are now without work. Most of those who work in this business are poor people without many job skills. They are facing ruin.
It is a desperate, last-minute attempt on our part. Not speaking out against what has been happening would have compounded our problems in the near future. We had to act.
As of now, no trade is happening in the 129 animal mandis in the state. Buffalo meat, which so many poor people were eating, is completely unavailable, and even the large meat units which process meat for exports are shut.
Q. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has assured that he will not allow individuals to inspect vehicles transporting livestock. With this assurance, will you call off your strike?
Mohammad Ali Qureshi: First of all, no minister has so far shown any interest in addressing our concerns. Ajit Pawar's statement in our favour is appreciated. However, he does not helm the ministries that govern the functioning of our trade.
Moreover, there has been no written communication so far that makes us believe things are about to change. While we appreciate the meeting he took, we will now hold discussions within the community to determine the next course of action. However, concrete changes on the ground are necessary to ensure that people in this business can survive.
