Leader of opposition in Bihar assembly, Prem Kumar of the BJP, had raised the issue of illegal slaughterhouses in the assembly last week, demanding their closure and cancellation of licences.
Following the Uttar Pradesh government's move, the grand alliance government in Bihar led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has ordered the sealing of seven illegal slaughterhouses in Rohtas district.
However, a leader of the ruling Janata Dal-United, Shayam Rajak, said that action against the seven illegal slaughterhouses was taken after the Patna high court directed the government to seal them within six weeks.
"It has nothing to do with the (UP chief minister) Yogi Adityanath factor," Rajak said explaining the reason behind the move.
According to district officials in Rohtas, which borders Uttar Pradesh, the illegal slaughterhouses were sealed after their licenses were not renewed by March 31.
Upbeat over the slaughterhouses being sealed across Uttar Pradesh following Adityanath's appointment as the chief minister, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party had demanded in the Bihar assembly that illegal slaughterhouses flourishing across the state should be closed and sealed.
Leader of opposition in Bihar assembly, Prem Kumar of the BJP, had raised the issue of illegal slaughterhouses in the assembly last week, demanding their closure and cancellation of licences.
He said the BJP is keen for a beef-free Bihar to ensure the protection of cows.
“Bihar should ban beef in line with Maharashtra,” Kumar said.
According to officials, cow slaughter is banned in Bihar as per a 1955 law, but cow slaughter continues unabated because of a flaw in the law that permits killing of a cow, buffalo or bull that is more than 15 years old or is diseased.
Violation of this provision carries a jail term of six months with Rs 1,000 fine.
In 2015 Bihar assembly polls, BJP’s top leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah tried to play beef politics during the campaign to polarise voters.
However, the party failed to cash in on the issue and lost the lection to the Janata Dal-United, the Rashtriya Janata Dal and the Congress combine.
IMAGE: A closed meat shop in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. Photograph: PTI Photo
