Ban on sale of cattle to hit Goa's beef eating populace: Cong

Goa Congress today said that the Centre's notification banning the sale of cattle for slaughter would have an adverse impact on the state, which has sizeable beef eating population.
The party, therefore, urged the Goa government to take up the issue with the Centre, as it "cannot impose eating habits on other people or cannot dictate terms to the people on their food".
The Centre recently banned the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter. The environment ministry notified the stringent 'Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Regulation of Livestock Markets) Rules, 2017' under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

"Congress party demands that the state government should take up this issue about the notification on sale of cattle for slaughtering with the Centre. It will have adverse effect on the state like Goa where there is sizeable beef eating population," the party's Goa spokesman Yatish Naik told reporters.
The party will also write to the Centre insisting that it should not be forced on people what they should eat and what they should not, he said.
"Why didn't the state government oppose the Centre's notification imposing restriction on sale of cattle for slaughtering," Naik asked.

"In Goa, it is a matter of concern for a section of people. In democracy, everyone has a right to eat what they want. The government cannot impose eating habits on other people or cannot dictate terms to the people on their food," the Congress leader said.

The state government is duty-bound to ensure that everybody's sentiments are protected and respected, he said.
Naik said the party will also protest against the notification on the streets and voicing its concerns before various authorities.