The Congress will write to the Centre about the concerns of the Goan people on the controversial notification banning trade of cattle for slaughter, said Goa Congress General Secretary and spokesperson Yatish Naik. He was addressing a press conference at the Congress headquarters on Monday.
Mr. Naik asked how the Chief Minister could plead ignorance over the issue when the Union Minister of State for AYUSH and north Goa MP Sripad Naik went on record last week saying “there is anxiety in the minds of people” over the notification.
“We are clear that the government can’t interfere with the eating habits of people,” Mr. Naik said. He added that the Congress had read reports that there could be beef shortage if cattle being brought from Karnataka was stopped from entering the State. The government must take steps to avoid this shortage,” he said.
Later in the evening, Mr. Nilesh Cabral, BJP MLA and chairman of the State-owned Goa Tourism Development Corporation Limited, admitted that the beef issue could affect the tourism industry and the issue needed to be addressed. He, however, tried to downplay the issue saying the notification was not aimed at banning beef. He said he was confident that Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar would take care of the concerns.
