Yogi Adityanath assures meat traders legal slaughterhouses won't be troubled; association supports action against illegal abattoirs

Lucknow: Newly-elected Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday assured a delegation of meat traders on government's crackdown on illegal slaughterhouses running in the state and said that all legal meat shops will be opened again. 

The meet between the Yogi Adityanath and meat traders took place at the official residence of the Chief Minister in Lucknow at 6 pm today.

Health Minister Siddharth Nath Singh, who briefed the media after the meeting said the Chief Minister assured the delegation that any action against legal slaughterhouses will not be tolerated and that action would be initiated against officials indulging in such activity. 

No discrimination will be allowed against anyone on the basis of community, caste or religion, the Chief Minister told the delegation.

"The Chief Minister has heard the concerns of the meat traders. The meeting has turned out to be positive. All delegates of meat traders supported the Chief Minister and said as citizens of India its our duty to see that nothing illegal is allowed," Siddharth Nath Singh said. 

Our meeting with UP CM was very succesful.He assured us that licensed slaughterhouses will not be troubled:Sirajuddin Qureshi,Meat Exporter pic.twitter.com/dag3GYhKZu — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 30, 2017

Meanwhile, the meat traders extended their support to the state government's view in the matter and seconded the move of banning illegal slaughterhouses after meeting the Chief Minister today.

While appealing to the protesters to return to work, meat Exporter Sirajuddin Qureshi said that their meeting with the Chief Minister was very successful."Our meeting with the UP Chief Minister was very successful. He assured us that licensed slaughterhouses will not be troubled," Qureshi said.

"I appeal to the protesters to return to work and start working with a proper licence, UP Government will help you procure one," he added.

Our meeting with UP CM was very succesful.He assured us that licensed slaughterhouses will not be troubled:Sirajuddin Qureshi,Meat Exporter pic.twitter.com/dag3GYhKZu — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) March 30, 2017

Thousands of meat sellers in shut shops for an indefinite period from Monday against the CM Adityanath government's decision to shut down illegal slaughterhouses in the state, causing concerns over Rs 15,000-crore industry that employs 25 lakh people in the state.

The issue also came up for a discussion in Parliament with the central government claiming that only illegal slaughterhouses were closed down in Uttar Pradesh.

Meat sellers in the sprawling Uttar Pradesh, however, allege that police were raiding the shops and forcing the closure of their establishments despite having valid licenses. Uttar Pradesh, however, allege that police were raiding the shops and forcing the closure of their establishments despite having valid licenses.

They said the ban on slaughterhouses has caused a shortage in meat supply across the state, as thousands of meat sellers have been forced to shut their shops for an indefinite period in an air of uncertainty over the state government policy.

After coming to power, the Yogi Adityanath-led government has ordered the closure of illegal slaughterhouses and strict enforcement of the ban on cow smuggling to fulfill a key electoral promise.

Adityanath last week said abattoirs operating legally will not be touched but action will be taken against those being run illegally.