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The Wire
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Wire
Maharashtra: Govt Bans Meat Sale For 10 Days in View of Pandharpur Wari Yatra
A complete ban on liquor sales has also been announced in the district during this period. Jaykumar Gore, Maharashtra's minister of rural development and Panchayat Raj and a BJP leader, has directed the Solapur district administration, which includes Pandharpur town, to completely ban the sale of any kind of meat for 10 days – from seven days before Ashadi Ekadashi to three days after the culmination of the pilgrims' foot journey to the Pandharpur temple. Gore, speaking to the media, claimed that the decision was taken following demands from the pilgrims visiting the Pandharpur temple, situated on the banks of Chandrabhaga River. 'Several warkaris (pilgrims) have expressed their wish to the chief minister (Devendra Fadnavis) to have a ban on meat sales during this period. So, the collector was finally directed to take the decision,' Gore said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jaykumar Gore (@jaykumargore) A complete ban on liquor sales has also been announced in the district during this period. Similar decisions have been implemented in other areas through which the pilgrims are scheduled to travel in the coming days. The tradition of making a foot journey to Pandharpur, initiated in the 13th century by saints like Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram, is deeply rooted in an anti-caste ethos. In this socio-religious movement, Sant Tukaram's teachings, in particular, challenged caste-based discrimination. The saint-poet movement, which spanned the 13th to 18th centuries and is also known as Maharashtra's renaissance period or Sudharna, was later revived in the 19th and 20th centuries by several anti-caste leaders who drew on the teachings of Bhakti movement saints. Over the past few years, however, the BJP and various right-wing groups have shown increasing interest in this organised sect, with several attempts to infuse it with a Hindutva ideology. Participants in the Wari, known as Warkaris, mostly hail from Bahujan castes and meat-eating communities. While Warkaris abstain from meat consumption during the pilgrimage, meat consumption by other villagers has historically not been an issue. In recent years, particularly under the BJP government in Maharashtra, several right-wing groups have advocated for a statewide ban on meat during the annual festival. Similar attempts have earlier been made around the nine-day celebration of Navaratri, Ram Navami among other festivals. Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog, a commission set up for the welfare of indigenous cows, had directed all Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) to not hold any livestock market from June 3 to June 8, a period before and after Eid al-Adha, commonly known as Bakrid. This decision, taken through a government resolution, was eventually withdrawn. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
Hindustan Times
04-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Bakra Eid: Cow, bull, bullock markets ordered to be closed in Maharashtra villages
Mumbai: A day after withdrawing the controversial order to close all livestock markets in the state during the week of Bakra Eid (Eid-ul-Adha), the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog, also known as Maharashtra Commission for Cow Services, on Tuesday issued another circular asking for the suspension of livestock markets for cows, bulls and bullocks in villages for six days — between June 3 and June 8. The circular stated that the order needs to be followed to ensure that the provisions of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act (MAPA), 1976, will not be violated during the Muslim festival, during which goats are slaughtered to commemorate the spirit of sacrifice. Previously, the commission had ordered the closure of all the livestock markets in the state during the same period, leading to strong opposition from members of the Muslim community. The matter was raised by the opposition leaders in a meeting called by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to review the preparations for Bakra Eid, which will be celebrated on June 7. The leaders also questioned the grounds for halting the sale of all animals, including sheep and goats, a week before the festival. Fadnavis had assured the Muslim legislators that the circular would be withdrawn. This is the first time the commission has issued such circulars since it was formed in March 2023. In the last eight days, it has issued three circulars on the matter. The first circular, issued on May 27, directed all the agricultural produce market committees (APMCs) to close all the livestock markets between June 3 and June 8. After it sparked a controversy, the commission issued a second circular, on June 2, allowing livestock markets to remain open but asked the APMC markets to ensure the provisions of the MAPA would not be violated. On Tuesday, it issued a third circular stating, 'Keeping in view of the Bakri Eid festival, you are requested that no livestock markets of cows, bulls and bullocks be operated from June 3 to 8 in any of the villages under your jurisdiction to ensure the provisions of Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, 1976 will not be violated.' The Maharashtra government formed the commission in 2023 to strictly implement its decision to protect cows and their progeny in the state. It was mandated to supervise the rearing of unproductive livestock rendered unfit for milk, breeding, carrying work, or agricultural purposes, as the state government believes the number of these livestock will rise because of its beef ban. The commission was expected to coordinate with various government agencies to stop non-productive cattle from going to slaughterhouses, which is illegal under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act, 1995, which was passed in March 2015. Not only this, the commission will monitor all the gaushalas (cowsheds) formed for stray and unproductive cattle. It also has the power to provide them with financial assistance wherever required.
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Maharashtra Goseva Ayog modifies livestock market ban ahead of Eid, limits it to cattle market
The Maharashtra Goseva Ayog, which had earlier directed all Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) to suspend livestock markets from June 3 to 8 in view of Eid al-Adha, has now issued a revised directive. The new order limits the suspension to markets where cows, bullocks and bulls are sold. The earlier circular, issued on May 27, had drawn sharp criticism from opposition MLAs and members of the Muslim community, who questioned the rationale behind halting the sale of all animals — including sheep and goats — a week before the festival. The issue was raised during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday to review preparedness for the upcoming Bakri Eid festival in the state. The revised circular, dated June 3, states: 'In view of the upcoming Bakri Eid, you are requested to ensure that from 03.06.2025 to 08.06.2025, no markets for the sale of indigenous cattle (cows, bullocks and bulls) are held in any villages in your jurisdiction.' The previous circular had mandated the closure of all livestock markets across the state. In contrast, the latest directive is specific to cattle markets, citing the need to prevent violations of the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act, which bans the slaughter of bovine animals (cow progeny) in the state. The Indian Express had reported on June 1 that the May 27 circular instructed all APMCs to shut livestock markets during the week of Bakri Eid to prevent illegal slaughter. The circular had emphasised vigilance, referencing state laws prohibiting bovine slaughter. The original order had sparked widespread backlash. 'The state needs to ensure that cow slaughter does not take place. But what is the intent behind shutting down the entire market,' asked Farooq Ahmad, state vice-president of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, who had led a protest in Nanded last week. 'If markets are not held, trade in animals such as goats, buffaloes and sheep will also stop. This will disrupt daily earnings for farmers, porters, brokers, drivers, the Qureshi-Khatik community and labourers.' Maharashtra has 292 livestock markets, most of which are regulated by APMCs. These markets are crucial for farmers, especially at the onset of the monsoon. While cattle are the primary commodity, smaller animals like goats and sheep are also traded, with transactions increasing ahead of Eid al-Adha.
Scroll.in
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
UP: Sambhal administration bans animal slaughter in public places during Bakri Eid
The administration in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal district on Tuesday announced that slaughtering of animals will not be permitted in public places during the Muslim festival of Bakri Eid and warned of strict action against anyone attempting to 'disturb public order', PTI reported. Bakri Eid, also known as Eid-al-Adha, commemorates the spirit of sacrifice and entails the slaughtering of goats. The festival will be celebrated on June 7. A meeting of a peace committee, which includes representatives from localities where Eid prayers would be conducted, was held to discuss the arrangements in Sambhal ahead of the festival, PTI reported. 'All stakeholders were consulted,' the news agency quoted District Magistrate Rajender Pensiya as telling reporters. 'Sacrifices will be allowed only at 19 pre-identified sites. No public or open space will be used for animal sacrifice.' Pensiya added that preventive measures were also in place against about 950 persons. 'Any attempt to breach the peace will be met with strict legal action,' he said. Religious leaders had been advised to complete sacrificial rituals before 3 pm between June 7 and June 9, the district magistrate said. He also issued a warning against uploading videos of animals being sacrificed on social media. Sambhal was the site of the violence that broke out on November 24 after a group of Muslims objected to a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in Chandausi town. A trial court had ordered the survey in a lawsuit claiming that the mosque had been built in 1526 by Mughal ruler Babar on the site of the 'centuries-old Shri Hari Har Temple dedicated to Lord Kalki'. Five persons were killed in the violence during the survey. In March, the police in the district had issued orders prohibiting prayers on streets or rooftops ahead of the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Fitr. Several other districts in the state had issued similar orders. Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog, a commission set up for cattle welfare, on May 27 ordered livestock markets in the state not to operate between June 3 and June 8. A circular issued to Agriculture Produce Market Committees stated that no livestock markets should be held in any district in the period to ensure that no illegal slaughter of bovines takes place during Bakri Eid.
News18
03-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Maharashtra Govt Withdraws Ban On Livestock Markets Ahead Of Bakri Eid
Last Updated: The development came after the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog had issued a directive last week regarding the closure of livestock markets from June 3 to June 8. Ahead of the Bakri Eid on June 7, the Maharashtra government has reversed a contentious order from the state cattle welfare commission to shut down all livestock markets between June 3 and June 8. The state has also greenlighted a proposal to modernise Mumbai's 54-year-old Deonar abattoir, as confirmed by Muslim community leaders who attended a meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday. This meeting, which included government officials, was convened to review preparations for the Muslim festival, which involves the slaughter of goats to honor the spirit of sacrifice. The development came after the Maharashtra Goseva Ayog, under the state department of animal husbandry, had issued a directive last week to all Agriculture Produce Market Committees (APMCs) to close livestock markets from June 3 to June 8. During Monday's meeting, Fadnavis informed Muslim MLAs that the directive had been withdrawn, Hindustan Times reported. According to attendees, Fadnavis assured them that his administration is committed to maintaining law and order during Bakri Eid and that traditional rituals would proceed without obstacles. The MLAs also called for more abattoirs in Mumbai and streamlined processes for obtaining no-objection certificates (NOC) from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for goat slaughter in housing societies. Samajwadi Party MLA Rais Shaikh confirmed that the state government responded positively to the concerns raised. 'We requested more abattoirs in Mumbai as the Deonar facility alone cannot meet the Eid demand. We also discussed the issue of BMC-issued NOCs for housing society goat slaughter," he said. Shaikh added that he urged the Chief minister to take strict action against certain organizations that obstruct the transport of non-bovine animals, assault vehicle drivers, and engage in unlawful activities under the guise of cow protection. Congress MLA Amin Patel stated that the demand to modernise the Deonar abattoir was accepted. 'We were informed that the plan has been approved and the tendering process for the upgrade will commence soon," he said. The state government has also instructed the BMC to ensure cleanliness and smooth vehicle movement at the abattoir during Bakri Eid week. First Published:
