Meat traders get assurance from UP CM Yogi Adityanath

NEW DELHI: A joint delegation of the All India Meat and Livestock Exporters Association and All India Jamait ul Quresh Uttar Pradesh met state chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday to find a solution to the impasse over the crackdown against illegal slaughter houses and meat shops.The meet began at the official residence of the Chief Minister in Lucknow at 6 pm today."The Chief Minister has heard the concerns of the meat traders. The meeting has turned out to be positive," State Minister Siddharth Nath Singh told ANI."All delegates of meat traders supported the Chief Minister CM and said as citizens of India its our duty to see that nothing illegal is allowed," Singh said."Our meeting with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was very successful. He assured us that licensed slaughterhouses will not be troubled," All India Jamaitul Quresh president Sirajuddin Qureshi told ANI.He also urged protesters to return to work and start working with a proper licence."UP Govt will help you procure one," Qureshi added.However, the mutton traders' association was not very forthcoming on whether the strike would be called off in view of the chief minister's assurance."The strike called by the mutton-sellers will continue at least till the end of Navaratra (April 5). It may be extended further if our demands are not met," Mubeen Qureshi, an officebearer of the Lucknow Bakra Gosht Vyapar Mandal, said.On Monday, Siddharth Nath Singh had asserted that the UP government will only act against slaughterhouses that are illegal."We have assembled here to give a clarification that it is an investigation only against the illegal slaughterhouses. Those who have licenses have nothing to fear. They should continue following regulations," Singh had said.Singh further said it was also a message to the officers not to overstep their jurisdiction and the mandate given by the state government.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.(With agencies inputs)