By Express News Service

LUCKNOW: In a strong blow to saffron-clad Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s overdrive against the meat industry, the Allahabad High Court has said that ‘choice of food is part of right to life’. The court has given the Uttar Pradesh government time till April 13 to ensure that its crackdown on unlicensed abattoirs does not deprive people of their livelihood or food.

“Food that is conducive to health cannot be treated as a wrong choice, and it is the State’s duty to ensure supply of healthy food items,” the court order said. “The State Government is expected to convene the meeting not later than 10 days from today and place any such deliberations that may be the result and outcome of such deliberations by the next date fixed.”

Immediately after being chosen by the BJP to lead biggest meat-producing State, Yogi Adityanath went on an overdrive against unlicensed slaughterhouses. Though the meat traders in the State responded by going on an ‘indefinite’ strike, they called it off after the government promised to open the Maulviganj slaughterhouse in Lucknow. However, current shortage has pushed consumers and sellers to trade underground.

For instance, an FIR was registered against three meat-sellers in Meerut, based on a sting operation by a local TV channel, for allegedly claiming they could supply beef. The new government, instead of focussing on reformation is further pushing consumers to the black market, say activists. This, they say, could result in circulation of unsafe and unhygienic meat products.

Going by the Allahabad High Court’s observations, several Indian states deny their citizens the right to food, livelihood, and thereby their fundamental right to life. The saga of Qureshi community in Maharashtra is a classic case in point. Six months after the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance came to power, a ‘draconian’ ban on beef was imposed in the State in 2015. While slaughter of cows has been illegal since 1976, the new law extended the ban to bulls and calves. A huge chunk of the community, primarily butchers, now struggle to make ends meet.